MNP to launch agronomy practice

MNP will consolidate six Prairie agronomy firms into its own practice, the accounting and professional services company announced today.

“We’re constantly looking for new ways to bring Canadian farmers the expertise they need to succeed,” said Marvin Slingerland, MNP’s senior vice president, agriculture, said in a news release.

MNP said it will join forces with 4R Agronomy, Annex Agro, Arrow Crop Management, Elite Ag, Max Ag Consulting and Sure Growth Solutions. Calgary-based consulting firm Convergence Growth will lead the agronomy practice.

All the agronomy companies will stay in their current locations while connecting with MNP’s 125 offices across the country, including 47 Prairie locations, MNP said.

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“We all saw the huge potential to quickly scale up our agronomy services and provide even more Canadian farmers with the critical support they need to succeed,” said Warren Bills, CEO and co-founder of Convergence Growth.

Bills is also listed as an “agri-coach” on Sure Growth Solutions’ website.

“There are more than 34,000 farms in Canada that exceed 1,120 acres in size, many of which need specialized agronomic advice,” he said.

Fewer than 20 per cent of these farms use professional agronomy services, he added.

Bills had already been in talks with the six agronomy companies about joining forces when MNP entered the picture, the news release said.

The geographic spread of the merging-in firms—which collectively manage about1.5 million acres, is part of MNP’s strategy to reach farms, said Tanya Knight, MNP’s executive vice president of clients and services.

“These mergers are really about helping us to reach and support more Canadian farmers with their journeys and so we’re delighted to welcome all six businesses into the MNP family,” she said.