This week’s Pioneer Hi-Bred/Dupont merger stirred up plenty of people in the agriculture industry, but little fuss is being made about the latest action by Deere and Company. Quad Cities-based Deere is forming what’s being called a “strategic alliance” with a South African construction equipment maker. Deere spokesman Jim Mitchell says Deere has bought a minority position in Bell Equipment but would release no details of the agreement and wouldn’t comment on potential buyouts or mergers. Mitchell says Bell will make dump trucks that’ll carry the Deere name to be sold in the U-S. Mitchell says the new line of South African-made dump trucks will be large-scale, ranging from 25 to 40-ton capacity beds. He says the new vehicles should be available this fall.
