DirectAg.com, the online resource for farming, today announced that it has formed an agreement to offer products of Stine Seed Co., the industry's largest private soybean breeding and development program in existence.

This agreement allows DirectAg.com users to choose from one of the most extensive lineups of Elite and Roundup Ready® soybeans, as well as Stine's own line of proprietary hybrid seed corn. The addition of Stine Seed offers producers a broader array of high-quality, brand-name products at DirectAg.com.

Harry Stine, president, Stine Seed, believes offering farmers e-commerce through DirectAg.com will complement their existing distribution system. "We are dedicated to providing customer choices, and that includes choices in how they can purchase Stine seed products,'' said Stine. "Our company has long been a leader in the adoption of new technologies, so our entry into agricultural e-commerce at this early stage is logical.''

With seed products from Stine Seed, DirectAg.com users will have access to some of the industry's most widely planted genetics, developed utilizing the latest technologies in breeding, biotechnology and seed production. In addition, Stine and other Stine representatives will moderate periodic online discussions and respond directly to farmers' questions via e-mail through the DirectAg.com Web site.

"With the addition of Stine Seed Company's products and services, DirectAg.com continues to attract the leaders in the agricultural arena,'' said Kip Pendelton, president and chief executive officer, DirectAg.com. "We are committed to providing the American farmer a variety of product choices and, just as importantly, the knowledge and information they need to make the best decision for their operation.''

The Stine Seed offerings will be available at DirectAg.com by early 2000.

Stine Seed, located near Adel, Iowa, is an industry-leading seed company marketing soybeans, corn and soft red winter wheat, and is a leading supplier of soybean genetics to the seed industry.

Launched in August, DirectAg.com, a comprehensive business-to-business Internet site, provides
farmers with a broad offering of information and a growing number of ag products and services.
Farmers can purchase name-brand, high-quality products and services from major agricultural suppliers at their convenience, any time of day or night. They can check out the latest ag-specific news and markets, in addition to sending questions to the site's "Virtual Agronomist'' from Agri-Growth®. DirectAg.com is in discussions with more than 100 leading agribusiness and financial companies, and plans to expand into other areas, including ag chemicals, farm equipment, parts, animal health and financial services. The company is based in St. Paul.

Company news release
N2298