Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
March 23, 2009
Viterra Inc. (TSX: VT) is pleased to announce a partnership
with Ducks Unlimited Canada and Bayer CropScience in their
Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action initiative. The project
aims to establish 100,000 new acres of the crop across Western
Canada in 2009.
As the premier delivery partner, Viterra will play a pivotal
role in providing product and program incentives to help
producers realize the benefits of growing winter wheat as part
of a sustainable cropping plan.
Viterra’s participation marks its latest contribution to the
development of winter wheat as a cropping option. The Company
began working with Ducks Unlimited Canada in 2005 and works
closely with producers, assisting them
with agronomic advice and offering improved winter wheat
varieties, crop protection products, crop nutrients and flexible
marketing options.
“Over the last three years, we have seen a significant increase
of approximately 350,000 acres of winter wheat across the
Prairies, illustrating the success of our partnership,” said
Mayo Schmidt, President and CEO of Viterra. “To date we have
donated over $1 million dollars in-kind for this important
conservation program, supporting the sustainability of
agriculture and making a lasting contribution to the
environment.”
“The Viterra partnership through the Winter Cereals:
Sustainability in Action program is good for waterfowl, good for
agri-business, and good for profitable and sustainable
agriculture production for farmers,” said Jeff Nelson, Executive
Vice-President of Ducks Unlimited Canada. “Our partnership is a
great example of agriculture and conservation interests working
together and proof positive that what’s good for the land, can
be good for business, too”.
Winter wheat protects wildlife habitats by encouraging the
development of nesting for waterfowl. Research conducted by
Ducks Unlimited has shown that waterfowl that nest in winter
wheat are 24 times more productive than those nesting in spring
seeded cereals. Winter wheat also provides several benefits for
producers, including the potential for higher yields, a more
manageable harvest workload and flexible marketing
opportunities.
Viterra Inc. is Canada's leading agribusiness, with extensive
operations and distribution capabilities across Western Canada,
and with operations in the United States, Japan and Singapore.
The Company is diversified into sales and services of crop
inputs and equipment, grain handling and marketing, livestock
feed, agri-food processing and financial products. These
operations are complemented by value-added businesses and
strategic alliances, which allow Viterra to leverage its pivotal
position between Prairie farmers and destination customers. The
Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbol VT. |
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