Dennis W. Harms, 56, co-founder of Premium Standard Farms (PSF), died while on a business trip last week.

Harms, a native of Stanford, IL, had 30 years of experience in agricultural management positions.

He worked for 15 years as a grain salesman for Cargill and Central Soya. He founded PSF, a vertically integrated pork production company, in 1988 and served as company CEO for 10 years, until Continental Grain purchased it in 1998.

In 2002, Harms became president of PIC USA and PIC Canada.

In 2007, he co-founded Spectrum Agribusiness, a food and agriculture consulting service.

Harms is survived by his wife, Kathi, a daughter and a son.