The president of the National Farmers Union says the day shareholders approved Viterra's sale to Glencore marked a sad day in the history of co-operative grain handling in western Canada.

"Viterra was built out the remnants of the prairie cooperative pool elevator system. A lot of work and effort that built those assets was done by farmer cooperatives, and farmers themselves, and now we see it sold off to an international commodity trader," says Terry Boehm.

He says farmers are losing their influence on the grain marketing system.

"Instead of the assets that farmers built to use for their benefit, they'll now be paying for them all over again through handling charges that the new owners will have," he says. "It's really a sad day for farmer autonomy and their ability to control the grain system beyond the farmgate."

Since it's a foreign takeover, the deal still needs the federal government's approval.