Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP) has announced its second investment in Hortau, a leader in irrigation management systems. The investment was part of a $10 million financing round led by ACAP and joined by BDC Capital, Inc., Avrio Ventures LP II and Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins.

Hortau, an industry leader in wireless, web-based irrigation management systems, was founded in 2002. The company's patented, irrigation management solutions help growers detect plant stress, ensuring optimal crop growth while reducing water and energy use, as well as eliminate environmental impacts of crop production.

'Over the last 13 years, we have worked hard to provide technology to farmers to increase efficiencies and improve their bottom line,' said Jocelyn Boudreau, CEO at Hortau. 'This new round of funding will enable us to increase our field support and bring new features to our hardware and software, adding more versatility to our platform.'

As California and other places throughout the U.S. face serious droughts and other water-related issues, Hortau's technology is especially relevant, providing farmers with easy-to-use mobile software and reporting technology to growers. The company's technology monitors how crops are faring in real time, allowing farmers to detect early stresses on crops before they are negatively affected.

'Hortau continues to prove itself as an innovator in agriculture technology mindful of the needs of farmers,' said Timothy Hassler, principal at Advantage Capital Partners. 'We are excited about partnering with Hortau once again and look forward to supporting the company's continued growth.'

ACAP is a $154.5-million fund that is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). The fund is a partnership between Advantage Capital Partners and nine Farm Credit organizations, established to bring together resources and people focused on providing more private capital, small business investment and quality jobs to rural America. Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent access to credit and financial services.

'The Rural Business Investment Company is a new and innovative way to encourage more private sector investment in rural America,' said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. 'Matching private investors with small businesses in rural communities helps companies get the capital they need to grow and create jobs. We are excited to see this fund continue to support businesses like Hortau.'

ACAP previously invested in Hortau in June 2015, enabling the company to focus on making its technology affordable and accessible to farmers. Last year, ACAP announced four additional investments, including American Botanicals; Iowa Cage-Free, LLLP; Pacific Ag; and Shenandoah Growers.

About Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP)

Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP) is a $154.5-million fund that is licensed as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which focuses on businesses involved in the production, processing and supply of agricultural products. It is a partnership between Advantage Capital Partners and nine Farm Credit organizations: AgCountry Farm Credit Services (Fargo, N.D.); AgStar Financial Services (Mankato, Minn.); AgriBank (St. Paul, Minn.); Capital Farm Credit (Bryan, Texas); CoBank (Denver, Colo.); Farm Credit Bank of Texas (Austin, Texas); Farm Credit Services of America (Omaha, Neb.); Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (Louisville, Ky.); and United FCS (Willmar, Minn.).

About Farm Credit

Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Farm Credit has been fulfilling its mission of helping these areas grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers, ranchers and others in rural America with the capital they need to make their businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. Because a steady flow of capital means more jobs and economic growth, Farm Credit is able to invest in the vibrancy of communities throughout rural America. For more information about Farm Credit, visit www.farmcreditnetwork.com

About Hortau

Hortau, an industry leader in wireless, web-based irrigation management systems, was founded in 2002 by two agriculturally minded entrepreneurs, Dr. Jean Caron, agronomist and PhD in soil physics, and Jocelyn Boudreau, agricultural engineer, master's degree in soil physics. Hortau's patented, irrigation management solutions help growers detect plant stress, ensuring optimal crop growth while reducing water and energy use, as well as eliminate environmental impacts of crop production. With U.S. operations based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Hortau has offices, representatives and technicians throughout North America.

Advantage Capital Partners is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Adviser Act of 1940. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This is not intended to be an advertisement concerning an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any interest in Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners or any other security.