QuickFarm and Agristar Global Networks today jointly announced the formation of a national alliance that will involve cross marketing their respective Internet-related services throughout the agricultural industry.

QuickFarm, based in Charleston, S.C., is a major online provider of Web-based services, technologies and agricultural news.  Agristar Global Networks, with its operational center in St. Paul, Minn. and business offices in Chicago, Ill., is the industry's leading provider of high-speed Internet connectivity combined with proprietary business services.

"There is excellent synergy between the agricultural online services QuickFarm provides and the broadband information network Agristar has developed for the industry," said Matt Walsh, vice president of sales and operations for QuickFarm. 

Kip Pendleton, Agristar Global Networks' president, said " Because of QuickFarm's leadership position in a number of branded web applications and our broadband connectivity that focuses exclusively on agriculture, we share many interests in reaching the same audiences."

Jeff Jackson, formerly of Agristar Global Networks, joined QuickFarm last month as vice president of corporate sales and will lead the alliance effort working directly with Pendleton.    "Jeff's recent involvement with Agristar and his experience with agricultural satellite and online communications makes him the ideal person to head this alliance," Walsh said. 

"The new alliance will enable Quick Farm to offer its Web-based services to Agristar Global Networks' subscribers," Pendleton said, "and in turn gives us the opportunity to deliver high-speed connectivity to their current and future customers."

QuickFarm is an online provider of Web-based services, technologies and agricultural news. Through branded Web applications, QuickFarm supplies commodity information and industry content to agribusinesses, such as grain elevators, cooperatives, feed yards and mills, cotton gins and other agricultural commodity trading points and their producer-customers. Serving customers nationwide, QuickFarm products and services increase the efficiencies and opportunities for agribusinesses to serve their customers.

Agristar Global Networks, Ltd. is a satellite-based communications company established to bridge the large connectivity gap between farm and ranch operators and their primary trade partners throughout the global food and fiber chain. The company partnered with Hughes Network Systems to develop “Agristar Powered by Direcway” to integrate farms and ranches, agribusinesses and food companies into a two-way, high-speed independent satellite network system. Broadband service also is provided to a large secondary rural market of non-farm residences and businesses.  Agristar Global Networks has a 50-year history through its forerunner entities of developing market-defining communications and business advisory programs for the agricultural industry.