AgWest expands west with purchase of 2 Saskatchewan dealerships

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This article was published 28/01/2025 (235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Buoyed by the backing of the Dutch, a Manitoba-grown agriculture company is rolling into Saskatchewan.

AgWest Ltd.’s acquisition of two Saskatchewan dealerships is its latest move in a steady expansion. Future expansion in the western province — and further growth within Manitoba — is in the cards, employees say.

“We haven’t really had any periods of downsizing,” noted Rene (Tiger) Allard, AgWest’s AGCO sales manager.

The company began in Portage la Prairie in 1991, and was later purchased by Toromont Industries Ltd. Powell Equipment — an Elie-born business selling Caterpillar products — was bought by Toromont in 2001, eventually merging into AgWest.

While under Toromont’s purview, AgWest expanded throughout Manitoba. Locations in Morden, Brandon, Neepawa, Russell and Swan River appeared.

AgWest is a dealership for AGCO Corp. offerings — combines, tractors and other agricultural machinery. Precision agriculture tools have become increasingly popular and purchased, Allard noted.

The company underwent another ownership change in 2023: Mechan International, a Dutch firm, acquired the Manitoba-born business.

In May 2024, AgWest announced its plans to construct new buildings in Brandon and Russell to mark the one-year anniversary of Mechan International’s ownership.

It’s now shifted its gaze west.

“Adding on … two locations in eastern Saskatchewan really strengthens our dealership network,” Allard said. “(It’s) going to be able to provide us better support for the farmers of Saskatchewan.”

AgWest was looking to expand its reach. It tapped its partner, AGCO, for opportunities. When AGCO contacted Agriterra Equipment — a fellow Agco dealer — about a possible sale of its Saskatchewan stores, the ball started rolling, explained Agriterra president Brian Taschuk.

“It’s a better fit for them than it was for us,” Taschuk said.

Agriterra Equipment mainly operates in Alberta. Its shops in Yorkton and Weyburn, Sask., were roughly nine hours away, Taschuk said.

Meanwhile, AgWest already had Saskatchewan farm clients because of its proximity to the provincial border, shared Neale Driver, AgWest branch manager for its Saskatchewan locations.

Driver and Allard declined to say how much the acquisition of the two Saskatchewan facilities cost. AgWest announced the deal earlier this month; work is ongoing to convert the sites from Agriterra to AgWest, Driver said.

“All of that (change) will be happening very soon,” he added when asked about a timeline.

The Yorkton site spans 10,200 square feet; Weyburn’s facility is 9,600 sq. ft. All 15 employees between the two locations will be kept on, Driver said. They join upwards of 100 AgWest staff in Manitoba.

“Both (Saskatchewan) locations are in the growing stages,” Driver said. “We’re excited to promote their growth and take them where they need to be.”

Eastern Saskatchewan has “tremendous growth opportunity” for the Agco products AgWest sells, Taschuk added.

AgWest has no immediate plans for further expansion. However, a bigger presence in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is likely in the future, Allard said.

The company counts more than 63,000 farm operators across the Prairies as clients. Fendt and Massey Ferguson are among the Agco brands AgWest carries.

Its parent company, Mechan International, is part of Netherlands-based Zweegers Equipment Group. Zweegers specializes in agricultural equipment distribution.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com