FAIRBURY, Neb. (AP) — A southeast Nebraska agriculture manufacturing plant will close part of its operations and eliminate more than half its workforce by November.
The Agrium plant in Fairbury will eliminate 33 jobs, the Lincoln Journal Star reported Friday (http://bit.ly/1wcCtup ).
The plant manufactures high-purity liquid and dry micronutrients for the fertilizer and animal feed industries.
Bill Cornmesser, senior U.S. operations manager for Agrium Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta, said the fertilizer company is exiting the zinc sulfate market, which affects the Fairbury operation. The plant's Loveland Products business, which makes liquid fertilizer and employs 20 people, will continue to operate, Cornmesser said.
Employees were told of the company's plans on Thursday. Cornmesser said the company will pay the employees unspecified severance and has been in contact with Nebraska Workforce Development to plan training, counseling and placement services within the month.
"We also have consultants we pay to help them find other work," Cornmesser said.
He offered no explanation for Agrium's exit from the zinc sulfate market.
In 2011, Agrium bought the Fairbury operation from International Mineral Technologies, which employed about 60 people at the time at what was called Tetra Micronutrients.
