Over 600,000 acres of pulses are grown in Alberta’s Palliser region. Shovel-ready land provides rail access, utilities, and skilled labour.
The village of Foremost is serviced by Forty Mile Rail and the Forty Mile Rail Yard, a short line rail connecting Palliser’s southern region to Canadian Pacific Rail and international markets.
The town of Oyen is serviced by Canadian National Rail and the Oyen Rail Yard, with 500 feet of town-owned and operated rail siding.
With an abundance of crops and rail-ready communities, the Palliser region is Western Canada’s vest location for your next pulse processing facility.
Pulse Growers
There are 3,163 farms growing pulses on 606,962 acres in the Palliser region, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture. Chickpeas, lentils and dry beans grown in the Palliser region account for 80% of Alberta’s pulse crop production.
Irrigation
Alberta’s Palliser region is home to the vast majority of Canada’s irrigated land, served primarily by two irrigation districts. St Mary River Irrigation District delivers water to over 370,000 acres while the Eastern Irrigation District provides water to an additional 300,000 acres. Pulse crops thrive in the Palliser region!
Available Labour
Palliser region’s unemployment rate sits at approximately 6%, with a participation rate of 66%. Agricultural workers represent the single largest workforce group. The regional participation rate, combined with agricultural experience means your new Palliser-based facility will be able to find skilled labour.
Rail
The Oyen Rail Yard, part of the CN Rail network, provides 155 acres of railside land and approximately 1,000 of rail siding. The Foremost Rail Yard connects to CP Rail via the Forty Mile Rail short line rail. The cities of Medicine Hat and Brooks also have rail siding land ready for development. For grain and pulse processing companies in need of rail access, the Palliser region has multiple options to consider.
What people are saying about pulses in the Palliser region
The Oyen Rail Yard is a strategic investment by the Board into the local people and businesses who call this region home.
The Oyen Rail Yard will create jobs, both direct and indirect, it will support future development and it will help maintain Oyen and area as an attractive place to do business.
Foremost is centrally located in Alberta’s most productive pulse-growing region. Foremost’s logistics park provides direct CP Rail access and provides eight acres of railside land ready for development.
Alberta’s Palliser region is a Canadian agricultural leader highlighted by sophisticated irrigation systems, rail access, crops, experienced labour, and a willingness to work with business.
Foremost
Forty Mile Rail connects the pulse industry to the region’s abundance of pulse crops, with a fully serviced eight-acre rail yard in the Village of Foremost. International markets are accessible via a connection to Canadian Pacific Rail’s mainline. As a short line rail service, Forty Mile Rail is able to develop additional sidings to suit your business.
Serviced railside land is currently available in the Village of Foremost.
Rail Siding: 1,000m
Available Land: 20 acres
Oyen
The 155 acre Oyen Rail Yard is serviced by Canadian National Rail and features approximately 15 acres of serviced railside land. The rail yard, including nearly a kilometer of rail siding, is owned and operated by the Town of Oyen. Additional siding can be added to suit your business. Oyen is located at the junction of highways 41 and 9, connecting to Calgary, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat.
Rail Siding: 1,000m
Available Land: 155 acres
Medicine Hat
2,400 acres of shovel-ready heavy industrial land forms the most significant future major employment node in the region. The area is bordered by Box Springs Road NW on the west side of the property and 23rd/24th Street NW on the south side of the property, and is home to major operations such as Canadian Fertilizer Limited, Aurora Cannabis, and Methanex. The land also features a CP Rail spur line and adjacent highway access.
Rail Siding: 3,000m
Available Land: 2,400 acres
Newell
Newell is located on the Trans-Canada Highway, less than 200 kilometers from Calgary. Newell farmers are served by the Eastern Irrigation District, which delivers water to over 120,000 acres. Serviced industrial land in the county provides direct access to the Trans-Canada Highway, with options adjacent to the CP main line.
Rail Siding: 200m
Available Land: 10 acres
Low Corporate Taxes
Alberta’s corporate tax rate is 11%, which is the lowest in Canada. By 2020, Alberta’s corporate tax rate will be 8%.
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five year, $3 billion federal and provincial funding program designed to strengthen Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector.
Alberta Investors Tax Credit
The Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC) offers a 30% tax credit to investors who provide equity capital to Alberta small businesses commercializing new products.
Protein Industries Supercluster
$153 million for projects that have the potential to transform the agriculture and food production sector and capitalize on the growing global demand for protein.
Palliser Economic Partnership makes Southeast Alberta globally competitive by marketing the region on a larger scale and promoting initiatives to attract investment.
- Home to Southern Alberta’s only short line rail, a logistics park and Canada’s largest commercial drone technology testing site.
- In the heart of the Eastern Irrigation District, the County of Newell is home to some of Southeast Alberta’s most productive farm land.
- Fully serviced railside land with access to CN Rail and a mile of siding at the junction of Highways #41 and #9. Agriculture and energy drive Oyen’s economy.
- Southeast Alberta’s largest city with a population of nearly 70,000. City-owned electric utility, regional airport with serviced greenfield land. Rail and highway access.
