Another Deere Deal

PLATTSBURG, Mo. (DTN) -- John Deere dealers have added a key piece to their inventory of corn care solutions. Deere announced Tuesday an allied distribution agreement with 360 Yield Center to sell and support that company's Y-Drop and Undercover products through Deere dealers.

Another product line to sell is good news for dealers in slow sales times, especially a product line that complements the recent deal with Hagie Manufacturing. In that joint venture, Deere bought a majority interest in Hagie, which makes high-clearance sprayers. The agreement gave Deere its first high-clearance, front-mount sprayers, which are ideal for late-season application of both fertilizer and other crop care products.

The Y-Drop and Undercover products are natural fits with such sprayers because they are designed to hang from spray booms to deliver crop care products to tall-standing corn. Y-Drops dribble liquid fertilizer at the base of corn plants; Undercover uses multidirectional spray nozzles that slide under a corn canopy to target fungicides, insecticides and nutrients for better product efficacy and improved crop health. Undercover can also be used in soybeans, wheat, cotton and sugar beets.

"This innovative application technology from 360 Yield Center helps to improve timing and placement of nutrients with John Deere and Hagie application equipment, including self-propelled sprayers and toolbars," said John May, Deere's president of agricultural solutions and chief information officer. "John Deere dealers will be able to provide sales and service support for these application products to help producers apply in-season nitrogen and plant health products where and when needed."

From 360 Yield Center's perspective, having Deere dealers sell its products opens some previously closed doors and maintains an existing relationship with Hagie. "We can now service and support more customers through the broadest dealer network in the U.S. and Canada," said Gregg Sauder, 360 Yield Center founder and president. "We have had a successful marketing partnership with Hagie, and we are excited to extend this relationship to John Deere."

This isn't the first time Deere has shown an interest in products developed by Sauder. Last November, Deere acquired Precision Planting LLC from the Climate Corporation. Monsanto, which owns Climate Corporation, had acquired Precision Planting in 2012 from Sauder. Based in Tremont, Illinois, Precision Planting was founded in 1993 by Sauder and his wife, Cindy.

Jim Patrico can be reached at jim.patrico@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @jimpatrico

(PS/AG)

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