Tifton, Ga., - October 15, 2006 - Ag-Networks, a business incubator client at the University of Georgia’s Agriculture Innovation Center, announced today the launch of a group of innovative new products and services designed specifically for two of the most important pieces of the farming operation – agricultural employers and their workforces.

“Our goal is to use technology to develop services that make life better for these workers and their employers” said Michael Hammond, Ag-Networks Chief Executive Officer.

“Today’s farms have become increasingly reliant on Hispanic migrant workforces. These workers are typically forced to call family members via pay phones and send money home through expensive wire services after paying the fees required to cash their paychecks,” Hammond continued. “These methods of money transfer and communication are unreliable, time-consuming and expensive, not to mention the dangers associated with carrying large amounts of cash.”

In addition, many agricultural employers are currently faced with the challenge of losing this vital workforce element due to an increase in higher-paying jobs in other industries.

In an effort to resolve these issues, Ag-Networks is launching three services designed to address the financial and communication obstacles facing migrant farm workers and their agricultural employers.

The first solution, Farm Direct, is a satellite-based phone service that operates out of mobile offices that reside near farming locations. The scalable business system includes high speed Internet and phone offerings for business operations.

“Our Cultural Communications Representative, Roger Ramirez conducted extensive market research within the farm worker groups, talking with them about their telecommunications needs and future Ag-Networks offerings,” said Hammond. “The idea of mobile phone offices gained immediate acceptance, even dependence, within the community.”

Ag-Networks’ core service, the AgriCom Service Center, is a mobile office with web-based services that provides a platform for additional service offerings. Armed with an automatic payroll system that allows workers to be paid via a pre-paid card, the AgriCom Service Center completely eliminates the need for checks as well as the need for workers to cash them. By implementing the Ag-Networks’ Ag-Networks Payroll Solution, payroll cards are loaded by the grower’s office and distributed to the workers. From that point, Ag-Networks user-friendly kiosks allow workers to view their accounts, pay bills, transfer money, purchase pre-paid minutes for the phone service and more. By bundling these offerings, Ag-Networks provides a portable, one-stop-shop for the agriculture employer as well as the workforce.

For more information about Ag-Networks, visit www.ag-networks.com or email info@ag-networks.com.

For more information about the Agriculture Innovation Center call Bill Boone at 229.391.6883; or go to agriculture.georgiainnovation.org.

Ag-Networks is a provider of broadband satellite and agricultural information services to rural America. The company’s financial service center, AgriCom, offers a complete portfolio of products and services designed to provide agricultural workforces with a convenient and low cost alternative for executing basic financial transactions. AgriCom is a self-contained, turn-key prepaid international call shop provided over a satellite connection that uses the power of VoIP technology to deliver the highest quality telephone communications to the remotest of locations. In addition, Ag-Networks’ Ag-Networks Payroll program automates the payroll process for employers and eliminates the costs and headaches associated with traditional paper check distribution. For more information, visit www.ag-networks.com

Press Contact: Neal Wheaton
Wilder + Wheaton for Ag-Networks
404-317-0698
Neal.wheaton@gmail.com