D&PL Will Launch Loyalty Reward Program

The Loyalty Reward Program will offer cotton producers who plant the majority of their 2004 acreage in D&PL varieties an opportunity to be involved in Sparks Producer Services, which formulates marketing and risk-management strategies for producers, says Jim Willeke, vice president of sales and marketing for D&PL.

The Loyalty Reward Program will target producers who plant the majority or all of their acreage to D&PL cotton varieties. They will also have the opportunity to become a client of Sparks Producer Services at a significantly discounted cost.

Sparks Producer Services provides crop marketing and price risk management advisory services to grower/clients, utilizing fundamental market research and analysis conducted by Sparks' commodity analysts.

"The same research and analytical resources used to serve some of the largest agribusiness firms and government institutions in the world are put to work for clients of Sparks Producer Services," says Bruce Scherr, president and CEO of Sparks Companies, Inc.

"We provide information and highly personal risk management consulting tailored to each grower's specific farming operation," he adds.

Sparks Producer Services clients have unlimited access to the extensive staff of Sparks crop marketing consultants and experienced professionals specializing in production agriculture, commodity markets and price-risk management. The service includes advice in utilizing cash markets, basis, futures, options, LDP and the government loan in developing marketing programs. The services will be offered by Sparks under contracts directly between Sparks and the producer.

In 2004, the Loyalty Reward Program will be offered to producers in all U.S. cotton states except Arizona and California. Billing will be organized through the local seed distribution system. Producers interested in the Loyalty Reward Program should contact their D&PL regional or district sales manager or D&PL Customer Service at 1-800-511-SEED (7333), or call Sparks Companies in Memphis at 1-800-238-6083.

Sparks Companies, Inc., an operating company of Informa plc, is a world leader in comprehensive agriculture, food industry agribusiness and commodity research, information, analysis and consulting. With a core team of research analysts and consulting specialists, Sparks serves many of the world's leading agribusinesses.

Headquartered in Memphis, the company has offices in Washington, D.C.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; St. Paul, Minn. and Winnipeg, Canada. It is the company's economic expertise and client base that combine to provide unique insights and strategic and long-term planning for agribusiness around the world. For more information, visit the Sparks Web site.