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National Corn Growers and Agristar Launch High-Speed Satellite Communications
Program
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CHICAGO, Feb
3, 2003 – The National Corn Growers Association and Agristar
Global Networks today announced a major new initiative to provide
high-speed, two-way Internet connectivity to the more than 32,000
NCGA members through Agristar Global Networks' satellite-based communications
service for agriculture.
Under the customized Agristar program, current and new NCGA members
who sign up for a one-year association membership will qualify for
significant discounts on the Agristar Powered by DIRECWAYTM equipment
and monthly service. Agristar and Hughes Network Systems, the world’s
largest provider of broadband satellite network solutions, joined
forces last year to develop the ultra high-speed satellite network
for agriculture. Corn grower members will have high-speed access to
the entire Internet, as well as to agricultural information programs
and business services Agristar Global Networks has developed exclusively for its satellite-service
members. These offerings include premium market and weather information,
distance-learning programs, high-speed video presentations and value-added
commodity opportunities.
The Agristar program will provide the NCGA with a state-of-the-art,
high-speed communications channel through which to deliver proprietary
content to its members in areas such as new research, business development,
expanding export markets, transportation concerns, ethanol production,
biotechnology and others issues that are critical to a corn producer’s
success today, said Rick Tolman, CEO of the NCGA. “The NCGA/Agristar
program offers an excellent option for corn growers who now suffer
from low telephone connection speeds to the Internet,” Tolman
said. “With access to email and the web, the Internet is a standard
platform for communication and high-speed connectivity enables quick
access to information and shorter download times,” said NCGA
Grower Services Chairman Mark Garber. “Yet most rural areas do
not have high-speed Internet access readily available through cable
or phone lines. This agreement will encourage those members not taking
advantage of the Internet to do so.”
“We’re very pleased to team up with the National Corn Growers
Association and its 25 state organizations,” said Kip Pendleton,
President of Agristar Global Networks. “NCGA is one of the largest and most successful
commodity organizations in the industry, and their participation in
the Agristar Network will enable America’s best corn growers
to communicate more effectively with other NCGA members and their
agribusiness service providers to improve the efficiency and profitability
of their operations.”
"The agriculture industry is very important to Hughes and we
are happy to be supporting the efforts of Agristar to meet the needs
of leading ag producers, dealers and other companies involved in the
food chain,” said Emil Regard, vice president of sales and marketing
for Hughes Network Systems.
Pendleton said some of the Agristar features producers now using the
system like best include having download speeds 20 times faster than
their old rural telephone connections, being able to access the Internet
without tying up a phone line, having their connection always
on and being able to access Agristar Global Networks' satellite network from
anywhere in the continental U.S. Also, unlike one-way satellite systems
that only allow users to receive television programs or limited market
and weather information, Agristar Global Networks' two-way channel lets producers
send as well as receive information. Another popular feature, Pendleton
said, is Agristar’s ability to transmit smooth, high-quality
streamed audio and video presentations.
About NCGA
The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase
opportunities for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance
corn's profitability and usage. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members,
25 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands
of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.
About Agristar Global Networks
Agristar Global Networks, Ltd. is a satellite-based communications
company established to bridge the large connectivity gap between the
world’s commercial farm and ranch operators and their primary
trade partners throughout the global food and fiber chain. Agristar
joined forces with Hughes Network Systems to develop Agristar Powered
by DIRECWAY to integrate leading commercial farms and ranches, agribusinesses
and food companies into a single two-way, high-speed independent satellite
network system. Agristar Global Networks has a 50-year history through its forerunner
entities of developing pioneering communications and business advisory
programs for the agricultural industry. These include the Top Farmers
of America Association in the 1960’s, the first organization
to provide business services for leading farm operations; Farm Futures
in the 1970’s, the industry’s first risk management publication;
AgriData Resources in the 1980’s, the first national computer
network linking top farms; and American Land Resources in the 1990’s,
the first investment banking entity to utilize national farmland databases
to assemble investment-grade agricultural land funds. Agristar Global Networks is
headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an operations center located
in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information on Agristar Global Networks,
please visit www.agristar.com.
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes
Electronics Corporation (HUGHES), is the world's leading provider
of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers,
with more than 500,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in
85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite
Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY®
brand – the world's leading broadband by satellite service for
consumer, small business and enterprise markets. In addition, HNS
is a leading manufacturer of DIRECTV® satellite television receivers,
having shipped more than 10 million systems to date. Headquartered
in Germantown, Maryland, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide.
The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corp., are used to
calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H
common stock (NYSE: GMH). To learn more about HNS, please visit www.hns.com.
Media Contact
Warren E. Clark
847-836-5100
warren.clark@ccimarketing.com
Agristar Contact
Kip Pendleton
President
kip.pendleton@agristar.com
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