BUSINESS MEMO: NEW COMPANY

Delta Growers Association, a cooperative of about 280 growers from Mississippi, Scott and New Madrid counties and Cargill, an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products and services, have agreed to form a new 50-50 joint venture at New Madrid.

The new company, River Bend Ag, LLC, will combine Cargill Fertilizer's dry and liquid terminal with a Delta Growers Association liquid terminal, both of which previously operated in New Madrid independently.

The new company will build a 20,000-ton dry storage facility -- about 22,500 square feet -- to improve storage and capacity and service.

"River Bend Ag, LLC, is ready to expand the wholesale dry and liquid fertilization operations of Cargill and Delta Growers in New Madrid," said Jim Turner, Cargill Fertilizer's territory manager. Turner will assume management of the joint venture.

Dwight Bird, Delta Growers' general manager, said the join venture would allow customers access to a range of products and services that "will enhance profitability."