Garst Seed Company (a member of Advanta Seeds) in a joint bid with AgriBioTech, Inc., announces the submission and acceptance of a bid to purchase AgriPro Seeds, Inc. of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Closing of the acquisition is subject to final negotiation of definitive agreements and board and regulatory approvals.

"We are very excited about adding many of the elements that make AgriPro a top soybean and corn research and development company into the Garst family," says Col Seccombe, President of Garst Seed Company. "The AgriPro acquisition demonstrates Garst's commitment to advancing and increasing its presence in North America. AgriPro's excellent soybean, breeding and development program will greatly enhance the capabilities we already have in soybean production, as well as expanding our customer base. The AgriPro market share in corn will help to accelerate the excellent growth rate that Garst has been achieving in the last three years."

In 1998, AgriPro will have sales of more than $60M with approximately 300 non-seasonal employees. The AgriPro portfolio of products includes corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers, grain sorghum, sorghum-sudangrasses and millet. AgriPro also has an excellent
distribution network throughout the midwest and southern Corn Belt areas. "The AgriPro brand will continue in the market, and by tapping into the Garst and Advanta research network, AgriPro customers will have access to a stronger product range and more technology products," said
Seccombe.

Also as part of the purchase agreement, Garst will take on two soybean breeding programs located in Ames, Iowa and Brookston, Indiana as well as three wheat breeding programs located at Berthoud, Colorado; Lafayette, Indiana and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Garst will also take on
AgriPro's seed production facilities at Brookings, South Dakota; Eldora, Iowa; Ames, Iowa and Hereford, Texas.

AgriBioTech, Inc. will take on AgriPro's industry-respected alfalfa research, breeding and development capabilities and products. Garst and AgriPro will retain retail distribution rights for this product range.

AgriBioTech, Inc. (NASDAQ National Market: ABTX) is a fully integrated, full service seed company specializing in the forage and turf grass seed sector, complete with research and development of proprietary seed varieties, seed processing plants and a national and international
distribution and sales network. AgriBioTech is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In North America, Garst is a recognized leader in the development and production of multi-trait (Garst G-STAC*) corn hybrids as well as technology-enhanced soybean varieties, grain sorghum and alfalfa. With corporate and research headquarters in Slater, Iowa, Garst is a member of the Advanta Group of seed companies, which ranks as one of the top five seed companies globally. Garst is the largest member of the Advanta group of companies, which is a joint venture between a leading global life-sciences company, Zeneca and Cosun, a major European food ingredient company.

* G-STAC is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company.

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