Burnsville weather-analytics company bolsters agricultural business with $12M acquisition

Burnsville-based weather analytics firm acquires ClearAg product line.

May 6, 2020 at 11:06PM
DTN employees at their offices in Burnsville.
DTN employees at their offices in Burnsville. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Burnsville-based DTN is bolstering its weather products for agriculture with a $12 million acquisition.

The bolt-on acquisition of Iteris Inc.'s ClearAg product line is DTN's seventh purchase since 2018 to build out its suite of weather forecasting and data information services. The company, backed by Switzerland-based private venture-capital firm TBG AG, also provides forecasting services to the oil and gas industry, among others.

The latest deal includes technology that provides field-level data on weather, soil conditions and crop health for precision agricultural applications.

"ClearAg is a global leader, offering best-in-class solutions for customers throughout the agriculture supply chain," said DTN's CEO Steve Matthesen in a release. "We will leverage their predictive agronomic insights to further drive value with our agribusiness and individual producer customers."

In addition, the two companies agreed to pursue new opportunities in the global-transportation market together.

DTN, which has about 1,200 employees, will add 50 more in the transaction.

Last month, DTN offered its severe-weather forecasting services for free to hospitals and health care systems managing COVID-19 responses so they could better manage physical and human resources in anticipation of severe weather events. So far, 16 health care organizations across the country have taken up DTN's Weather Sentry service.

about the writer

about the writer

Patrick Kennedy

Reporter

Business reporter Patrick Kennedy covers executive compensation and public companies. He has reported on the Minnesota business community for more than 25 years.

See More

More from Business

card image
FILE -- President Donald Trump signs the tax reform bill in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Dec. 22, 2017. Republicans are pouring government stimulus into a steadily strengthening economy, adding economic fuel at a moment when unemployment is low and wages are beginning to rise, a combination that is stoking fears of higher inflation and ballooning budget deficits. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)