MARKETING NEWS.

Makhteshim-Agan of North America, Inc., New York, has acquired from Aventis CropScience, Lyon, France, the U.S. rights to clofenzine, sold as Apollo Ovicide/Miticide, as part of a worldwide transfer of the product to Makhteshim-Agan Industries Ltd. Makhteshim-Agan adds James J. Colitas and Gary Sullivan to focus on the marketing of Apollo. Colitas, of Bethlehem, Pa., will handle sales east of the Rocky Mountains. Sullivan, of Modesto, Calif., will handle sales in the West. Colitas was previously with AgrEvo USA Co., where he was horticultural team leader and was instrumental in the development of Apollo from its inception in the mid-1980s. Sullivan also has more than 25 years' ag chem sales experience with PureGro, Gowan Co. and RNA Corp.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, Ill., and Kao Corporation of Japan have signed a letter of intent to form a 50-50 joint venture for the manufacturing, marketing and sales of diacylglycerol (DAG) oil as an ingredient for the food industry, currently marketed in Japan under the trade name Econa oil.

Developed by Kao, Econa oil is a premium edible oil marketed for health-conscious consumers in Japan. The parties contemplate that ADM would construct a pilot plant to produce Econa oil at its Decatur, Ill., facility, which would be operational by November 2001.

Premium Brands, Inc., Richmond, British Columbia, announced the sale of its fresh pork division to Olymel, S.E.C., St.-Hyacinthe, Quebec, the largest fresh pork exporter and poultry processor as well as the second-largest hog processor in Canada.

As part of the transaction, Premium Brands and Olymel will enter into a seven-year agreement for the supply of raw materials to Premium Brands' processing operations. Furthermore, Olymel and Premium Brands have initiated discussions to work together on several other value-added initiatives.

DeLaval Inc., Kansas City, Mo., and Agricultural Building & Design, Inc., Okemos, Mich., have formed a partnership to build turnkey dairies. Together, the two leaders in the dairy industry will provide top-quality dairy construction in combination with the most innovative technology in the industry. "The combination of DeLaval and AB&D offers our end customers -- the dairymen -- state-of-the-art dairy facilities, completed on time and within budget," says Bill Papineau, president of DeLaval Group U.S.

Valmont Industries, Inc., Omaha, Neb., has reduced the size of its workforce in the irrigation division by approximately 100 employees. The reduction includes administrative and production employees at the company's Valley and McCook locations. Valmont says the action was taken in light of low commodity prices and increased costs for fuel and fertilizer, which have introduced uncertainty for U.S. farmers about their capital spending plans for the upcoming planting season. Valmont has more than 5,400 employees worldwide. Valmont also leads the world in mechanized irrigation and water management equipment for agriculture.

Larry Hedlin, president of Hedlin Ag Enterprises, Inc., West Des Moines, Iowa, announces the sale of the business to Kevin K. Drury. The business's primary focus is executive search, consulting and training. While the company has a nationwide client base, its primary service area is the Midwest. Kevin Drury spent 13 years in various sales, marketing and communication positions at DowElanco. Most recently, he spent five years in management within the information technology services and consulting industry. Hedlin will continue his affiliation with the firm for the foreseeable future.

GenomicFX, a livestock genomics company, Austin, Texas, has acquired Genetic Solutions, Brisbane, Australia. The agreement hopes to accelerate worldwide commercialization of advanced genetic information tools for the livestock and meat industries. "Our acquisition of Genetic Solutions brings together the knowledge and resources of two companies with a similar vision and complementary product development strategies," says Tom Burnell, CEO, GenomicFX. "By working together, we will bring new products to livestock producers, meat industry processors and retailers while avoiding duplication of efforts."