Agrium Inc. has added a news release to its Investor Relations website.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Jun 19, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --

ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN US$ UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

Agrium Inc. (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) announced today that it expects to
earn between $4.10 to $4.40 diluted earnings per share on continuing
operations in the second quarter of 2011, or $5.12 to $5.42 for the
first half of 2011. The significant increase from the previous
guidance of $3.38 to $3.88 diluted earnings per share from continuing
operations for the second quarter is due to very strong Retail
performance and increasing nutrient pricing supported by continued
strong crop fundamentals.

The guidance excludes any additional impact from second quarter
share-based payment expense or mark-to-market gains or losses on
natural gas or other commodity hedge positions.

"The strength in our earnings outlook is due to excellent performance
from all three of our business units, which is particularly
impressive given that the North American spring planting season has
been hampered by excessively cold and wet weather this year. Record
global crop prices are driving demand for all crop inputs, and
Agrium's strategic investment across the global agricultural value
chain is capturing the benefits from the strength in these underlying
fundamentals," said Mike Wilson, Agrium President and CEO.

The major assumptions made in preparing our second quarter guidance
on continuing operations are outlined below and include, but are not
limited to:

--  Wholesale and North American Retail fertilizer margins reflecting
    increasing benchmark prices through the second quarter except for
    Wholesale volumes previously committed under pricing programs;
--  Aggregate Wholesale fertilizer sales volumes consistent with the same
    levels in the second quarter of 2010 with some shift in product mix;
--  Retail North American fertilizer sales volumes slightly below sales
    volumes in the second quarter of 2010;
--  A consolidated tax rate of 27.5 percent; and,
--  The exclusion from the guidance range of the effects in the second
    quarter of:
    --  share-based payment expense or recovery;
    --  mark-to-market gains or losses on commodity hedge positions settling
        in future periods; and,
    --  the results of discontinued operations.

About Agrium

Agrium Inc. is a major Retail supplier of agricultural products and
services in North America, South America and Australia and a leading
global Wholesale producer and marketer of all three major
agricultural nutrients and the premier supplier of specialty
fertilizers in North America through our Advanced Technologies
business unit. Agrium's strategy is to grow across the value chain
through acquisition, incremental expansion of its existing operations
and through the development, commercialization and marketing of new
products and international opportunities. Our strategy places
particular emphasis on growth opportunities that both increase and
stabilize our earnings profile in the continuing transformation of
Agrium.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and other information included in this press
release constitute "forward looking information" within the meaning
of applicable Canadian securities legislation or constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S.
securities legislation (collectively, the "forward-looking
statements"). All statements in this press release, other than those
relating to historical information or current conditions, are
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements
as to management's expectations with respect to business and
financial prospects and operations of Agrium. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties as well
as various assumptions and business sensitivities, including those
referred to in the MD&A section of the Corporation's most recent
Annual Report to Shareholders as well as those risk factors described
in the Corporation's most recent Annual Information Form, which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Corporation to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and
business conditions, weather conditions, crop prices, the supply and
demand and price levels for our major products, litigation risk as
well as counterpart and sovereign risk, governmental and regulatory
requirements and actions by governmental authorities, including
changes in government policy, changes in environmental, tax and the
interpretation thereof and other laws or regulations and other risk
factors detailed from time to time in Agrium's reports filed with
securities regulators. Agrium disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press
release as a result of new information or future events, except as
may be required under applicable Canadian securities legislation or
applicable U.S. federal securities law. These forward-looking
statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us
in light of our experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments as well as other
factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. All of the
forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by these
cautionary statements and by the assumptions that are stated or
inherent in such forward-looking statements. Although we believe
these assumptions are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed
on these assumptions and such forward-looking statements

Contacts:
Agrium Inc.
Richard Downey
Senior Director, Investor Relations
(403) 225-7357

Agrium Inc.
Todd Coakwell
Manager, Investor Relations
(403) 225-7437

SOURCE: Agrium Inc.