Aerial view of a loop track featuring a train of CPKC’s newer “high-efficiency” grain hopper cars, at a G3 elevator near Moose Jaw, Sask. in December 2018. (CPR.ca)

Richardson elevators expanding to feed ‘high-efficiency’ trains

Eight sites along CPKC lines to get expanded rail car spots

Grain handler Richardson International plans to expand rail car spots at eight Prairie elevators on Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) lines as the railway gears up for longer trains with new higher-volume hopper cars. Winnipeg-based Richardson on Monday announced expanded rail car spots for its elevators at Lacombe, Carseland, Provost and Olds, Alta.; Estevan, Whitewood […] Read more

(Richardson International video screengrab via YouTube)

Richardson crush plant workers to vote on new offer

UFCW team endorses latest offer

Unionized workers at Richardson International’s oilseed crush plant at Lethbridge, Alta. will vote Tuesday and Wednesday on a new offer from the company after rejecting a previous proposal. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 announced Tuesday (Jan. 25) its negotiating committee “fully endorses” the new offer after the company’s Richardson Oilseed division “enhanced […] Read more

File photo of a Richardson Pioneer concrete elevator. (Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to replace northernmost grain elevator

Grain handler Richardson Pioneer plans to replace the northernmost grain elevator in its Prairie network by next fall. The arm of Winnipeg’s Richardson International said Monday it has started construction on a new elevator at High Level in northwestern Alberta, about 200 km south of the province’s border with the Northwest Territories. The new facility, […] Read more

With spring seeding fast-approaching couched with uncertain commodity markets, there’s growing fear that the dispute with China is poised to hugely impact Canadian farmers’ bottom lines.

Opinion: Agriculture now part of grand global political game

Capital Letters with Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics

The news came in a single news release, quietly sent out the afternoon of March 21. Despite ongoing conversations, the Canola Council of Canada had been informed Chinese importers were no longer interested in purchasing Canadian canola seed. Technical conversations, the release said, had not shown an “immediate resolution was possible.” At this time, Canola […] Read more


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 7, 2019.

Opinion: Federal government struggles to deal with trade irritants

Capital Letters with Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics

The Trudeau government has a trade problem down on the farm. The Chinese government recently announced it had embargoed canola exports from one of this country’s largest grain exporters: Richardson International Ltd. The Richardson embargo comes at a time of increased diplomatic tensions between Canada and China. Beijing says the move is required because a […] Read more

A rapeseed field in southern China’s Yunnan province. (YuenWu/iStock/Getty Images)

Richardson disputes China claim of ‘hazardous pests’ in canola

Beijing/Chicago | Reuters — Canadian agribusiness Richardson International said on Wednesday that canola it shipped to China met regulatory requirements after a Chinese official charged that “hazardous pests” were found in samples taken recently from Canadian canola imports. Beijing this month cancelled Richardson’s registration to ship Canadian canola to China, the world’s top importer of […] Read more

(Richardson Pioneer via YouTube)

China blocks some Richardson canola shipments

Beijing/Kabul | Reuters — China has canceled Canadian agribusiness Richardson International’s registration to ship canola to China, the company said on Tuesday, the latest sign of tensions between Ottawa and Beijing. It was not immediately clear why exports to China by Richardson, the world’s top importer of canola, had been halted. Canada and China are […] Read more


(OatMillers.com)

Confidence seen in oat sector with Richardson deal

CNS Canada –– Richardson International’s decision to buy British-based European Oat Millers is seen as a strong sign of confidence in the oats sector, even if it has little effect on Prairie farmers. “I think it’s very positive. We’re seeing lots of activity in the oats industry,” Art Enns, president of the Prairie Oat Growers […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to expand Prairie retail space

Winnipeg grain firm Richardson International plans to expand its crop input retail business across the Prairies, starting in central and western Saskatchewan with plans for two new stores and a rebuilt store. The company said Monday it will replace its crop input facility at Wakaw, about 90 km northeast of Saskatoon, and build new at […] Read more