SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA — Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL) has announced plans to consolidate feed production from six facilities across the Canadian Prairies to three facilities in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Alberta; and Moosomin, Saskatchewan.

FCL said the decision to close the facilities addresses “unprecedented competitor consolidation” and a changing market in the feed sector. The cooperative said the changes should allow it to continue to provide feed products and services in the long term.

Among the changes in store, FCL said it intends to make significant capital investments to modernize its remaining plants. One such investment will include new bagging equipment that will be installed to support better stitched, open-mouth bags that will be distributed throughout the entire Co-operative Retailing System.

“While we don’t make these decisions lightly, by consolidating manufacturing and taking measures to refocus our resources in the livestock sector, we’re better able to serve our local co-ops and their producer customers across Western Canada well into the future,” said Ron Healey, vice-president of agriculture and consumer business at FCL.

FCL said it will wind down operations at its plant in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada, in August, and cease operations at its facility in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, in October. Products and services from the Brandon and Melfort sites will be transitioned to the cooperative’s three remaining pants in Saskatoon, Calgary and Moosomin.

FCL’s other feed facility in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, will transfer its operations to Wetaskiwin Co-op in September, the company said.

“These plants have been in their communities for many years and I want to thank all of the team members who have contributed so much for so many years,” said Shelley Revering, director of feed for FCL. “The concentration of our feed manufacturing operations results from industry challenges and in no way reflects the substantial efforts of our plant teams.”

FCL manufactures cattle, horse, sheep and poultry feed in bags and bulk orders. The company also produces pet food for the Co-operative Retailing System.