Sara Muri, Farm Journal Business & Crops Online Editor
A volatile economy is not stopping a company that produces a volatile product from expanding.
The building of a nitrogen-coating facility has been announced for New Madrid, Mo., a town in the southeastern section of the state. The plant will produce ESN, or Environmentally Smart Nitrogen, a controlled-released agricultural fertilizer primarily used in corn production.
Agrium Inc. is constructing the facility, which is expected to produce 120,000 tons of ESN annually.
Rod Oglesby, direction or operations for Agrium Advanced Technologies, says they designed the New Madrid plant in such a way that it can easily double production, as needed.
Agrium expects the plant to cost around $36 million and to be operational by 2010. The plant will employ 18 full-time employees.
“I know we’ll add a lot to the economy in Missouri and New Madrid,” Oglesby says.
The plant location was determined by several factors, says Ben Nelson, marketing manager for Agrium Advanced Technologies.
“New Madrid was chosen to produce the product closer to the corn farmers,” Nelson says. The proximity to high-agric culture-production areas and developed transportation routes also made New Madrid a good choice.
With the addition of the New Madrid plant, Agrium will increase their ESN production capacity to 360,000 tons at three locations.
For More Information
Agrium Advanced Technologies
ESN
You can e-mail Sara Muri at smuri@farmjournal.com.
