Winnipeg, Manitoba
February 25, 2003

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Agricore United have entered into negotiations that will see Agricore United manage the production, sales and distribution of DUC's native plant materials.

The arrangement provides mutual benefit to each organization and ultimately benefits customers demanding cost-effective, sustainable native plants that can withstand the extremes of Canadian climates.

"This is the most recent evolution in a partnership designed to provide native plant species to fulfil forage and revegetation needs across the country," says Gord Rettaler, who is overseeing the partnership on DUC's behalf. "Native plants greatly contribute to achieving diversity and sustainability on upland habitats. Sustainable landscapes are a component of DUC's long-term vision for wildlife habitat in Canada. This next step in our marketing arrangement with Agricore United complements our vision."

DUC began restoring native grasslands in the early 1980s as a means of improving habitat for waterfowl. Under this objective, DUC used native plant species that offered increased sustainability in prairie environments. DUC developed Ecovars(TM) as an intermediate step between a true native plant and a cultivar. Most of today's agricultural crops, including tame grasses, are cultivars. Ecovars are the offspring of plants that have been specially selected from a larger population for their ability to survive and reproduce in specific regions of the Canadian Prairies. They offer greater genetic diversity than cultivars and provide greater adaptability to the extreme range of conditions faced in Western Canada.

Todd Hyra, forage product manager with Agricore United, says the benefit to producers will be improved opportunities for beef gains through managed grazing systems that include cool and warm season native pastures. Ecovars also offer the potential for greater grass stand longevity, improved drought tolerance and, in some cases, increased forage yield.

"This agreement combines the best of DUC's work in native plant selection, breeding and adaptation with Proven Seed's strong production, sales and distribution capabilities," Hyra says. "We are capitalizing on the performance of these native plants to improve our product offer to our customers."

Agricore United is one of Canada's leading agri-businesses. The prairie-based company is diversified into sales of crop inputs and services, grain merchandising, livestock production services and farm business communications. Agricore United's shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AU". Proven Seed is a business unit of Agricore United. Its primary areas of focus are canola, forages and wheat.

In conjunction with its Ecovar development program, DUC will continue to provide native plant material installation and monitoring services. Ducks Unlimited Canada conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.