AT CLOSING NEWS.

John Deere, Moline, Ill., has created an Agricultural Management Solutions (AMS) group. The objective is to integrate technology into farm equipment and to develop agricultural solutions around a customer's business practices. Former factory marketing manager Barry Schaffter has been named vice president of the AMS group. He is in the process of assembling the staff of the new group. Offices will be located in Des Moines, Iowa.

BASF and RiceTec, Inc. have entered into a global agreement for the development, production and commercialization of high-performance hybrid rice for the CLEARFIELD Production System. The agreement will lead to the development of the first hybrid rice with tolerance to CLEARFIELD imidazolinone herbicides. The first hybrids are projected to be available in the United States in 2003.

eCotton, Atlanta, and Data Transmission Network Corporation, Omaha, Neb., have announced the asset purchase of the DTN Cotton Network by eCotton. DTN will be a shareholder in eCotton and occupy a seat on its advisory board. The eCotton Web site provides a neutral marketplace that directly links buyers and sellers of cotton and cottonseed. DTN Cotton Network serves cotton gins, warehouses and merchants by providing accounting and management software specifically for the cotton industry. The DTN Network has operations in Memphis and Lubbock, Texas.

Ag Services of America, Inc., and its subsidiary Powerfarm, Inc. recently added a leasing option to their offering of crop inputs and flexible financing programs. Leasing is now available to producers online through Powerfarm.com or through field representatives of Ag Services of America, Inc. Through the leasing option, producers are able to acquire and lease new vehicles and lease farm equipment from tractors and combines to processing equipment.

AgReliant Genetics, LLC, Westfield, Ind., acquires the assets and business of Wensman Seed Company, Wadena, Minn. Wensman markets corn, soybean, sunflower and alfalfa seed to farmers, primarily in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Jeff Wensman will function as general manager, and Jon Wensman will serve as production manager and will continue to be based at the headquarters in Wadena.

Dairyland Seed, West Bend, Wis., has successfully acquired an alfalfa conditioning facility in Homedale, Idaho. The facility has been purchased from the assets of AgriBioTech, Inc., Henderson, Nev., which is currently going through bankruptcy proceedings. The 46,000-square-foot Homedale facility conditions more than 15,000 acres of alfalfa seed production each year.

Kahntact Marketing, Inc., Guelph, Ontario, agrees to form a working partnership with Parallel Strategies, a subsidiary of Axia NetMedia Corp. Kahntact is a communications company specializing in agri-food, agribusiness and consumer marketing. As part of the agreement, Parallel has also obtained an option to acquire an equity position in Kahntact Marketing at a future point in time. Upon exercise of Parallel's option to purchase an equity stake, Kahntact will operate under Parallel's Fieldstone Marketing brand.

The National Association of Farm Broadcasters, St. Paul, Minn., celebrates the 25th anniversary of the NAFB Foundation this year. The Foundation was founded in 1975 and has since awarded 62 students nearly $138,000 in scholarship assistance. NAFB is asking its members to contribute at least $25 in its "25 in 25" campaign. Gifts of $25, $250, $2,500 and $25,000 are recognized with special silver-themed gifts. Contact George Logan at 631/224-0508 for more information.