i read on the "ohio farmer" website Claas, Renault Merge Ag Units Mike Wilson Equipment merger mania is not the sole purview of North American companies. Worldwide changes in the ag economy force companies to consider new ways to thrive as farm suppliers. Earlier this year we told you about Claas and Renault's talks to marry. This week they announced the official deal. Germany's Claas Equipment Company, Europe's leading harvesting specialists, is set to purchase 51% of Renault Agriculture, France's leading farm tractor company. The company is expected to take over 80% of the shares of Renault Ag within three years and has an option to purchase the last 20% from parent company Renault by 2007. The deal must still meet the approval of European anti-trust authorities. The announcement was made at SIMA, one of the world's largest farm equipment shows, held in Paris Feb. 23-27.