Garst Seed Company and PSA Genetics LLC, Alta, Iowa, have signed a joint marketing agreement that is effective immediately.

"This agreement will allow PSA to service it's customer base from a much larger gene bank, including 'gene stacking' and the Garst G-STAC technology," says Neil Quirin, CEO of PSA. "Garst is an industry-recognized leader in the research and development of multiple trait corn
hybrids and we are excited to be a part of the continuing efforts to develop and market these value-added hybrids."

The joint marketing agreement with PSA Genetics will also provide Garst with additional access to numerous storefront agribusiness centers and farmer sales reps in western Iowa, northeast Kansas, Nebraska and southeast South Dakota.

"In today's business climate, we have to look for and seek out joint agreements and partnerships that will be good for both our customers and our company," says David Witherspoon, director of marketing for Garst. "This joint marketing agreement with PSA  Genetics is one that we feel very comfortable with. We are looking forward to very positive results in the market." Quirin notes that "this venture will allow our customers to access a complete line of corn and soybean genetics from one seed source.

Garst's elite corn breeding program features both input and output technology from both biotechnology and natural crop breeding programs. It's just the combination of good sound genetics and biotechnology seed products that our customers have been looking for."

No financial terms of the agreement will be released.

PSA Genetics LLC is headquartered in Alta, Iowa. It is a limited liability corporation with a majority interest and ownership by Professional Seed Associates, also located in Alta, Iowa.

For more than three generations, Garst Seed Company has been an industry leader in the development and production of hybrid seed corn. From humble beginnings in the 1930s, Garst has grown into one of the leading corn research and breeding companies in the world. Today, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, grain sorghum, sunflowers and canola are all marketed and sold under the Garst name.

Garst is the largest member of the Advanta group of companies. With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst is a key component of an expansive worldwide Advanta seed technology network that includes research, development and breeding facilities in 13 U.S. states and in 12 countries around the globe. Thus, Garst and its worldwide sister companies employ thousands of technical staff to advance plant breeding, genetics and seed production. For more information about Garst or the full line of Garst seed products, call 1-888-GO-GARST or visit the Garst Seed Company web site at www.garstseed.com.

Company news release
N1877