Future Of Agriculture

  Richard Hoff is the Director of Viticulture of Mercer Ranches. Mercer Ranches is a grape farm that produces high-quality wine through strict quality control and precise technology. Richard is considered an expert in wine tasting, wine manufacturing, and general viticulture. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Viticulture from Washington State University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.   Richard joins me today to discuss in great detail how the production of wine works - from the grape to the bottle. He describes the vineyards Mercer owns, the grapes they produce, their different yields, and their farming practices. He explains some of the details involved in processing such as pruning and de-leafing, as well as the technologies they use. Richard also shares some of the problems he looks forward to being solved by technology in the future.     “There's just not much of an argument anymore whether mechanization is as good as hands.” - Richard Hoff

  Dr. Fiona Edwards Murphy is the CEO and Co-Founder of ApisProtect. ApisProtect is a company that innovates the agricultural industry with its advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Specifically, they help beekeepers both small and large gather the necessary data from their bee colonies through sensors. They aim to help preserve bees and perhaps even reverse the rising colony losses around the world.   Fiona joins me today to share her passion for saving bees and how she came up with the idea of using sensor technology. She describes the current bee problem and its possible implications in and outside the agricultural sector. She explains how their sensor technology works, how it helps beekeepers, and its potential usage outside of the pollination industry. Fiona also describes their business model and how they found the market that supported their company.     “We collect the sensor data and use machine learning to convert the raw data into useful information for the beekeeper.” - Dr. Fiona Edw

  Glen and Jason Newcomer are the fifth- and sixth-generation owners and operators of Newcomer Farms.  Glen has extensive experience in farm management, agronomy support, and agricultural risk management. Jason returned to the farm after college to help the family operate and innovate the farm to match current trends.   Glen and Jason join me to share what it’s like to manage a farm that’s survived many troubling times. They discuss the difference between how the farm was managed decades ago and how it is managed today. Jason explains the reason why he returned to farming and Glen describes some of the tasks Jason helped relieve him from. They also share how they select their board of advisors and their perspective on farm operations.     “We always have to find ways to become more efficient and more profitable.” - Glen Newcomer       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:   Glen and Jason Newcomer's agricultural background and the history of their farm. Why Jason is passionate about ma

  Janice Person is the Online Engagement Director at Bayer Crop Science. In this role, she is responsible for social media and internet outreach towards influencers, bloggers, and the general public throughout the agriculture space. She has connected with thousands of food, lifestyle, and agricultural bloggers and those numbers are still growing. She also blogs on her personal website, JP Loves Cotton.   Janice joins me today to share her responsibilities as Online Engagement Director and some of her notable accomplishments in this role. She describes how she found her passion for the ag industry, especially cotton. She discusses some of the more common mistakes people make on social media and what she’s learned from her experience. Janice also explains what people can look forward to SXSW and why people interested in agriculture should attend.     “Sometimes it's a lot easier to start a conversation when people know they have some common ground with you.” - Janice Person       This Week on The Futu

Aidan Connolly is the Chief Executive Officer at Cainthus, a software company dedicated to helping farmers collect the necessary and critical information they need to manage their farms better. Cainthus’ current project involves the use of sensors that interpret visual information from various farm animals. He is also the author of 2-1-4-3, a book on growing your business. Before becoming Cainthus’ CIO, Aidan previously held the same position at Alltech, an agtech company which he served for over 28 years.   Aidan joins me today to share his current business venture and how this new company can help the farming industry as a whole. He discusses their current sensor project, its applications, and how it can improve farm efficiency. He also explains the overall theme of his book as well as what the title 2-1-4-3 means.     “Make it as honest and uncomfortable as you can be in terms of evaluating what your business really is today.” - Aidan Connolly       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

  Dr. Sara Place is the Senior Director of Sustainable Beef Production Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, an organization that seeks to innovate and educate its members regarding their industry. She specializes in livestock sustainability systems and livestock production research. Sara obtained her Ph.D. in Animal Biology from UC Davis and worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University.   Sara joins me today to discuss the idea of connecting sustainability and the beef industry. She describes the current state of the beef industry and highlights its effects on global warming. She explains why removing cattle is not the solution to global warming and shares insight into how upcycling can be applied in the beef industry. Sara also shares some of the promising sustainability projects they plan to launch this year and in the future.     “We're going to have 2 billion more people coming to dinner in the next thirty years, and we only have

  Aaron Ratner is the Managing Director at Ultra Capital, a company that finances small and mid-size startups in the sustainable technology industry. He has over 20 years of experience in advisory, international investment, and project development with a focus on agriculture and technology. Aaron obtained his MsM from Stanford University and his BA from the University of Pennsylvania.   Aaron joins me today to discuss what Ultra Capital is about and what they aim to accomplish with their current business model. He shares his passion for sustainable technologies and preserving Mother Nature. He describes how their business works and their criteria for investing. Aaron also explains why banks aren’t as committed to funding the kind of companies they work with.     “It is incredibly fulfilling, trying to make the world a better place. From that, there is really no turning back.” - Aaron Ratner       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:   Aaron's definition of project level equity. What h

  Euler Bropleh is the Founder & Managing Director of Vested World, an investment platform that seeks to bridge the gap between private investors and startups in emerging markets. Euler focuses on emerging markets because he knows what it’s live in a country that barely made any progress in the last 50 years and how access to substantial capital can make a huge difference in the economy of a developing nation. He has served as an angel investor to multiple businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, some of which are in the ag industry.   Euler joins me today to share his commitment to helping developing countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda. He discusses how Vested World works and describes some of the companies they helped grow and prosper. He explains some of the risks involved in their business as well as some of its more notable benefits. Euler also discusses what the FIERCE acronym stands for and how he bases his business model around it.     “If you do well by the people you're working with, your co

  Scott Bennett is the Director of Congressional Relations at the https://www.fb.org/ (American Farm Bureau Federation), an independent, voluntary, non-government group that is headed by people who represent the best interests of farmers and their families in the US. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and Political Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before joining the American Farm Bureau Federation, he was the legislative director for Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a House Agriculture Committee Senior member.   Scott joins me today to discuss the developments on lab-grown protein products and their potential benefits to the economy. He explains some of the political aspects of agriculture, particularly on its relationship with government entities. He also describes the differences between plant-based and lab-based proteins and shares his views for the future of lab-grown proteins as well as advice to those who want to support this idea.     “Five year

  Henry Gordon-Smith is considered one of the leading experts in urban agriculture. He is the Founder and Managing Director of https://www.agritecture.com/ (Agritecture), a global urban agriculture consultation company that seeks to spread and promote the idea of urban and vertical farming. Part of Henry’s duties as Managing Director include overseeing projects, planning events and conferences, and networking with like-minded businesses. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University.   Henry joins me today to share his passion for urban farming and discuss some of its more fascinating details. He explains what urban farming is, what makes it different from local farming, and how it can improve a city’s economic growth as well as its sustainability efforts. He shares research data on urban agriculture, how someone can be eligible to have an urban farm, and the potential profitability. Henry also describes what we can

Dr. Paul Zorner is the CEO of Locus Agricultural Solutions, an agricultural company that develops microbial “probiotics.” These microbial probiotics aim to become the alternative to conventional farm pesticides, effectively reducing chemical interaction with our crops as well as preserving soil health. Dr. Paul’s responsibilities as CEO include overseeing the company’s strategies, operations, and product development. He has over 40 years of experience in science and R&D operations from multiple international companies.   Dr. Paul joins us today to discuss the potential benefits of microbes for soil health and farm yield. He shares the science behind using microbes for soil and their untapped potential for the agriculture industry as a whole. He describes some of the microbes’ functions, how they are to be applied on crops, and how they can reduce pesticide usage. He also explains how these microbes can help reduce carbon gases in the atmosphere.     “We know more about the surface of the moon than we do

  Matt Zieger is the Vice President of Village Capital, a company that seeks startups offering innovative solutions and disruptive ideas that promote sustainability. As Vice President, he is responsible for developing strategic partnerships with individual investors, private organizations, and government projects. He specializes in cross-sector collaboration which allows him to weave multiple business entities into focusing on sustainability and economic growth.   Matt joins me today to discuss the idea of disruptive startups and why being disruptive may not be what the ag industry currently needs. He shares what Village Capital is all about, how they determine which companies they will invest in, and their business processes. He also shares the problems their company believes ag startups should focus on and describes when a company should scale and when it should just stay its course.       “The farm economy is the backbone of the American economy.” - Matt Zieger       This Week on The Future of A

  Ross Thruston is the President and Founder of Livestock Water Recycling, a company that is implementing technology in animal agriculture units that recycles the water and nutrients from animal agriculture systems. He has over 30 years of experience in construction and environmental technology.   Jay Binversie is a third generation dairy farmer and the owner of http://robinwaydairy.com/ (Robinway Dairy) and http://buckyorganics.com/ (Bucky Organics). Robinway Dairy is a 1700 cow dairy farm based in Kiel, Wisconsin. Bucky Organics is a company that produces and sells organic plant nutrients. Jay has used the Livestock Water Recycling’s system on his dairy farm for over four years, extracting the nutrients from his cow’s manure and using it to create natural organic plant nutrient supplements for farmers.   Ross and Jay join me today to discuss nutrient cycling and the manure economy. Ross shares what inspired him to create a system for the agriculture industry and how it impacts farm sustainability. Jay

  Steve Sarracino is the Founder of Activant Capital, a business that invests in growth-stage tech companies worldwide. They provide funding for businesses in commerce, Internet of Things, and data-driven companies. For agriculture, Steve prefers data-driven companies because they can act as a source of truth not just for farmers, but also for consumers. He obtained his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his BA in Finance and Economics at Southern Methodist University.   Steve joins me today to discuss how the farmers can benefit from data-driven startups and how it can have positive effects on the ag industry. He describes the current business models that govern the ag industry and the emerging trends in startups. He also shares the type of business models farmers need and describes the kind of companies they’re looking to invest in as well as what new ag startups should seek to address.     “Farming is basically a dirty data problem.” - Dr. David Williams       This

  Dr. David Williams is a professor of agronomy and member of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences with the University of Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Program. He has been in the agronomic industry his entire career, wearing hats as a teacher, researcher, and practitioner. David has been a champion of industrial hemp agronomic science research since 2014.   David joins me today to discuss the various ways hemp can be utilized other than for its psychoactive properties. He explains what the industry currently looks like and how that will change in the coming years. He also shares some of the concerns farmers raise when it comes to growing hemp, farm data about the plant, and describes how hemp holds the potential to revolutionize the economy.     “Cannabinoids are evolutionarily thought of as a plant protection molecule. They certainly weren't put on this Earth to get humans high.” - Dr. David Williams       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:   David's pro

  Zev Paiss is a Managing Partner at Farmers Support Group, a company dedicated to helping hemp farmers as well as laying down the foundations for a U.S. hemp supply chain. Their goal is to guarantee buyers for every hemp seed planted. Zev’s extensive business acumen allows him to provide the group with consultation, supply chain development, and investor relations services. He also manages the company’s sustainability development projects.   Zev joins me today to discuss the hemp industry, its current state, and what the future holds for it. He shares his background, why he became passionate about hemp farming, and his current projects. He explains the massive economic potential of the hemp industry and why companies in various sectors should take a look. He also describes some of the problems farmers encounter when growing hemp as well as some of his proposed solutions.     “As the market demands different products, processors are continuing what they can do and figuring out how to scale up.” - Zev Pa

  Ken McCarty manages McCarty Family Farms, a dairy farm that has been in operation since 1914, making it more than a hundred years old. On top of using state-of-the-art equipment, their farm is also Non-GMO Project Verified. Ken is part of the fourth generation of owners and makes sure their daily operations puts emphasis on environmental sustainability and animal welfare among other concerns.   Ken joins me today to describe how he and his family run and manages their farm. He shares some of its rich history, its humble beginnings, and why they decided to focus on dairy products. He explains why they went after a Non-GMO certification and how it has improved the quality of their operations. He also discusses how using data instead of instinct is the right way to manage a farm.     “Growth, to us, isn't milking more cows and getting bigger. Growth is getting better every day.” - Ken McCarty       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:   Why you should operate in multiple, small location

  Dick Wittman is the Founder of Wittman Consulting, a company dedicated to training consultants who can help family farm businesses in transitional processes and agricultural finance. Dick is a former manager and the current board chair for a 20,000-acre family farm located in Idaho. He has an extensive farming and ranching background in crops, cattle, and timber. He holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho and a Master’s degree from the University of Utah. Currently, he focuses on public speaking and running Train-the-Trainer workshops, expanding the international resource base of agricultural consultants for family-owned businesses.   Dick joins me today to share why it’s important for family farm owners to adopt the “Farm CEO” mindset. He explains why family farm managers need to operate more like executives and how they can change their mindset to function at an executive level. He also shares the skills that are required today to better manage family farm businesses and t

  Jeff and Garrett Sims are the owners of Sims Farms, a family-owned and operated ag business in the Centralia, Missouri area. The farm was established in 1967, and they’re the 5th generation of farmers who manage and oversee its day-to-day operations. Some of the services they offer include stewardship, soybeans production, and commercial corn production.   Jeff and Garrett join me today to describe how Granular has enabled them to manage their business at a more efficient rate. They share how they run the farm, the people they employ, and the crops they grow. They discuss how they adapted to new technologies and how Granular has served as one of their best investments. They also explain the importance of knowing which “shiny object” to focus on and how to tell if a new tool is worth your time.     “It's great to sell a product, but you have to have people and systems in place to make it work.” - Jeff Sims       This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:   Jeff and Garrett Sims' farming ope

  Sid Gorham is the President & CEO of Granular, a software and analytics platform that aims to improve farming efficiency and help farmers make better, well-informed business decisions. As the leader of Granular, his responsibilities include setting growth strategies and maintaining a rich and diverse entrepreneurial culture as they scale the company. His extensive experience in leading companies in the tech and mobile industries, as well as seeing the needs of the ag industry, has served as one of his primary drivers in starting the company.   Sid joins me today to share how Granular enables farmers to operate and manage their farms better. He shares his passion for tech, his interests in applying tech in farms, and how he got inspired to start Granular. He describes the farming problems their company solves, explains how their business works, and how they integrate new farmers into using their platform. He also discusses some of the current innovations in ag as well as shares his thoughts on the future