Simplot and Agri-Trend form new Joint-Venture Agri Data Management Company

The new company will market and deploy the agricultural data maagement system to growers, food processors, and other agricultural applications in the U.S. The fee-based data management platform has been used extensively in Canada for the past ten years and has been customized and tested for U.S. cropping systems and patterns for the past two growing seasons.

The Agri-Data Solution™ (www.agridatasolution.com) is a web-based system that allows growers to fully integrate all their data into a single management system, and transmit specific farming data to key stakeholders, such as crop advisors, banks, processors and others who have a vested interest in a particular crop or field.

The system can also be used for documenting carbon sequestration activities, and by agricultural processors for contract compliance and to document land- applied processed water. In addition to data management, The Agri-Data Solution™ will provide all-important documentation, which will increasingly be required of growers.

Bill Whitacre, CEO-elect of the JR Simplot Company feels the new partnership is the starting point for track and traceable food/feed systems as well as demonstrating good agricultural practices. The foundation for demonstrating good stewardship and sustainable farming practices begins at the field level with on-the-ground data management and documentation”, he said. “We’ve
been developing this concept for several years and today it is a working reality.”

According to Whitacre, the technology has wide applications beyond the Simplot Company. We felt that by creating a separate and stand-alone company, we could maintain data privacy and make this platform available to the entire agricultural industry.” Robert Saik, CEO and founder of The Agri-Trend Group of Companies adds, “We have been developing our on-line, encrypted, fully-integrated Netware platform since 1999 and were recognized as Alberta Ag E-Business of the Year in 2002 for demonstrating how farmers and agribusiness could use the power of the internet to improve production and grower profits. The Agri-

Data Solution™ Netware Platform, and its related components have been used on millions of acres of farmland in Canada and after an extensive testing period, we are delighted to move forward with the J.R. Simplot Company to offer this platform for use by growers and agri-business in the US.”

The J.R. Simplot Company, a privately-held agribusiness firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho, responsibly Brings Earths Resources to Life with an integrated portfolio that includes phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, food processing, food brands and other enterprises related to agriculture. Simplot’s major operations are in the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and China, with products marketed in over 40 countries worldwide. For more information: www.simplot.com.

Agri-Trend Data Corp is part of The Agri-Trend Group of Companies a privately-held organization headquartered in Red Deer, Alberta with offices in Calgary, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Agri-Trend provides leadership through “The Science of Growth” to farmers, agronomists, agri-retailers and agri-industry in the area of production consulting, agricultural offset carbon credit generation, grain marketing strategies and data management innovation.

The Agri-Trend Network spans Canada with operations in The United States and affiliates in Australia.
For more information: www.agritrendgroup.com and www.simplot.com