DTH provider Star Choice, along with Sat-Tel Corp. of Red Deer, AB, have launched AgCast Canada, a new data network featuring up-to-the-minute agricultural information to farmers across the country.

Farmers and market analysts can now receive farming information on their personal computers via a hook-up to a Star Choice receiver.

‘Households in rural areas of Canada have a high adoption rate of satellite systems, but in the past agricultural information services required a second dish,’ says Kim Walker, president of Sat-Tel.

In the United States, AgCast claims that nearly 200,000 farmers currently receive agriculture information via satellite.

The new service will be available for $54.95 per month. Star Choice now has over 170,000 subscribers, according to Bruce Barr, VP sales and marketing.