Deere & Co. said Thursday it has fully acquired Auteq Telemática, an onboard software and computer company located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Deere previously had created a joint venture with Auteq in 2009 to provide integrated technologies and solutions for sugarcane production.

Moline-based Deere said the acquisition gives the company additional specialization in the sugarcane market and further capability to develop products and services to help customers leverage the data produced by onboard computers in equipment used for planting, crop care and harvesting in sugarcane production. In addition to software, Auteq also specializes in hardware support.

"The acquisition of Auteq is another step to solidify our growth strategy in the sugarcane segment,” Paulo Herrmann, president of John Deere Brasil. said in a news release. “This action also demonstrates John Deere’s continued commitment to development of Brazilian agriculture.”

While Deere has fully acquired the company, Deere said the business will continue to operate under the Auteq brand name.