This month in Agri Marketing ... (For Openers).

Five Years Ago

* Monsanto Co., St. Louis, approved plans to form two separately traded, public companies: a life science company to serve agriculture, food and health care markets, and a chemical company to manufacture and market other chemicals.

* Steve Pearson becomes executive director, National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB).

Ten Years Ago

* Jennifer Conrad joins NAMA, Shawnee Mission, Kan., as communications manager. She was research manager for D.F. Bryant & Co, Overland Park, Kan.

* K-Products Inc., Orange City, Iowa, appoints Quentin Hatfield as president and chief operating officer.

* The American Agricultural Network (AgNet), Houston, Texas, a satellite television network devoted to American farmers and ranchers, premiers offering nine hours of live programming devoted to ag news, weather, commodity reports and analysis. Subscribers pick up the network directly via satellite dishes.

Twenty Years Ago

* Kathy Cornett, account executive for the southern division of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc is named vice president of client services for McCormick Advertising Agency, Amarillo, Texas.

* The Genetic Engineering Industry Directory is published by International Resource Development Inc. The directory highlights firms with the greatest possibility for successful conversion of the technology to a marketable product. Top firms are Biogen SA, Cetus Corp, DuPont, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Genex Corp, IPRI, Monsanto and Phillips Petroleum.