Ag Uncensored with Nathan Faleide

The title says most of it, but more or less farming is about the senses and it doesn't make sense to most farmers using software the way it's been built. Maybe we need to talk to it, get it to react to the way Ag thinks and acts. Maybe GenAI is the answer. Anyway, more on that here. 

There’s this constant tension building between the people who use AgTech stuff and the people who build it. Farmers versus programmers. Agronomists versus developers. Call it what you want—but it’s everywhere now, and it’s getting worse. I dive into that and a little more in this episode. 

In this episode, I talk through the chaos and realities of AgTech during the busy season and where all the flashy features and promises don’t mean a thing if the tools don’t actually work when farmers need them most. I dig into why data resolution often gets oversold, especially when your equipment can’t even apply changes at that scale, and how we keep falling into the trap of complexity over practicality. 

This week I talk through a write up Ben Voss did about what's going on with tech entrenched in OEM Ag Machinery and how that relates to the AgTech software world with FMIS. Also, another pickup ride which I think I'm staying with. Enjoy!

Alright, so this one’s a bit of a mobile ramble—I’m in the pickup, no dogs, just rolling through the wind and rain, thinking out loud about how tech is driving equipment decisions more than the machines themselves. I talk about how OEMs are fumbling or thriving based on how seamless their tech works, and how farmers—especially bigger ones—are buying based on that. But I also dig into why smaller farms aren't jumping on the robot bandwagon, and how a lot of AgTech folks miss the whole point because they’ve never actually done the job they're...

Well some big government officials and politicians are in ND to talk about Ag. I talk about this on a drive with my dogs in the country side where they also will be visiting nearby my home at the Grand Farm an AgTech testing farm and facility. I get into my thoughts on how the USDA can do better with digital data and processes. There is a lot to talk about and I hope the people around them today and beyond can get the right messages across. This is how I'm doing it. Enjoy!

In this episode, I went off on kind of a fun tangent—comparing the Masters golf tournament to AgTech and farming. It might sound like a stretch, but hear me out. Golf is this game where most people just want to play and enjoy it, not win a championship. Same goes for most farmers. They’re not trying to be the top yield winner, they’re just trying to make things work with the tools they’ve got.

I talk about how the media and industry are obsessed with the latest shiny ag tech—like we’re all supposed...

We have to be reminded sometimes of how cruel business can be and who are the ones that try and make the big moves over control towards those that create. It's not just David vs Goliath, it's morality vs greed often. The fear that controls this narrative is big and it's used to keep people in place where they want. AgTech needs to get out of this rut and start making what is needed for the industry. This episode I go through that, give some of my own examples, and even some fresh ones.

While there are plenty of great things being built in AgTech, we are also in a downsizing phase and a reset. With that comes likely an inbound of new consultants coming into play while some try and find new career paths. I talk more on that and how some could navigate that while trying to make sure we understand all the nuance around it all.

In this little diddy I reflect upon my visits to the World Agri-Tech Conference in San Fran. I walk through my experience, the general conference, and other thoughts and trends (along with a few rumors) from my visit. Enjoy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Conference Overview

06:23 Reflections on World Agri-Tech Conference

12:15 The State of Ag Tech Investment

18:51 Challenges for New Biologicals

24:44 The Evolution of Digital Solutions in Ag

30:50 The Future of Ag Technology

Here is some of my thoughts around the Commodity Classic in Denver, discussing the current state of agriculture, market sentiments, and the evolving landscape of Ag Tech. I talk about the uncertainty in the market, the importance of sustainability, and the role of precision agriculture. I get into the potential of biological products, the need for transparency in data, and the collaboration required within the industry to address challenges and seize opportunities. Also there is always the significance of government support and the future outlook for agriculture as various trends converge.

This one is about the exact title which references another video by Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank around a statement she made about that she mainly invests in poorer founders than rich ones. I talk about how this connects to Ag and the tech world within it.

I discuss the current state of Ag Tech adoption, focusing on the potential role of small farms, the challenges faced in data utilization, and the resistance from farmers towards new technologies. I get into the need for innovative solutions that prioritize farmer control and ownership of data, while also addressing the global landscape of agricultural technology. The conversation highlights the complexities of Ag Tech adoption and the necessity for a more tailored approach to meet the diverse needs of farmers.

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, I discuss the evolving landscape of agriculture, emphasizing the importance of small farms in the Agtech sector. I explore the demographic shifts in farming, the challenges faced by commodity farming, and the opportunities for small farms to thrive through specialty crops and technology. What we need to see is a more integrated approach between farmers and consumers, highlighting the need for tools that enhance traceability and quality in food production.

In this episode, I sat down with Paul Miller and Bill Northcott, the innovative minds behind Agrible, to dive into their journey from agricultural roots to creating a groundbreaking AgTech company. We kicked things off by exploring how they got started and the unique challenges they faced in monetizing their technology—a tricky balance of understanding both the business and farming worlds.

One major theme was the challenge of connecting complex analytics with the everyday realities of farmers. It’s not just about crunching numbers; it’s about providing practical tools that help farmers make better decisions. We als...

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scott Sexton, the CEO of EverAg. We delved into the challenges and opportunities in the ag technology industry and highlighted the significance of creating comprehensive and interconnected solutions for the agri-food ecosystem. Scott shared his journey from the food industry into ag tech and explained how EverAg evolved from its roots in the dairy industry to expand into other sectors of the agri-food value chain.

Our discussion emphasized building an interconnected ecosystem in agriculture and the hurdles of integrating various software solutions. We talked about...

Hey everyone, welcome back to Ag Uncensored! This is Nathan Faleide, your host. Today, I had the pleasure of talking with Kerwin Bradley from Black Gold Farms. We had planned to do this live at the Cultivate Conference in Fargo, but doing it online was much easier and laid back.

Kerwin shared his fascinating journey in agriculture, from growing up on a wheat farm in Montana to working at Walt Disney World, and eventually becoming the Chief Production Officer at Black Gold Farms. We dived deep into the complexities of potato farming and the unique challenges and...

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Ag Uncensored. Today, it’s just me, Nathan Faleide, with a solo episode on a topic that’s both frustrating and essential: CLUs and acreage reporting. Buckle up, because this ride might get a bit bumpy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:24 Acreage Reporting Season and Deadlines
07:19 The Impact of CLU Inaccuracies on Program Payments
10:15 The Inaccuracies of CLU Data
15:04 The Cost of Inaccurate CLUs
26:01 The Need for Change in the Reporting Process
28:00 Conclusion

The conversation covers the journey of Eshan Soltan, the Founder and CEO of SoilTech Wireless with host Nathan Faleide. We dive through his products, and the challenges of integrating technology into agriculture. It delves into the importance of understanding the needs of farmers, the slow development process, and the impact of timing and scalability in the industry. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to agriculture technology, including challenges in the industry, the importance of simplicity, the role of champions in integration, and the need for effective customer support. The discussion also touches on the excitement around...

Overview: Hey everyone, it's Nathan Faleide, your host of Ag Uncensored. In this episode, I share my vision for evolving the podcast format and introduce new ideas to help bridge the gap between technology adoption and practical usage in agriculture. I'll discuss the challenges we face in the industry, the potential for new content formats, and my experiences and plans for future episodes.

Timestamped Takeaways:

00:01: I start off by explaining the delay in releasing this episode due to sickness and travel, and discuss new directions for the podcast, including more solo content and weekly or...

In this conversation, Nathan Faleide interviews Aaron Hutchinson current Founder and CEO of Lighthouse.Ag and former Founder and CEO of CropTrak. They talk about precision agriculture and AgTech and the decades of history Aaron has experienced within it. They discuss the challenges of implementing blockchain technology in agriculture, the need for data sharing and collaboration, and the importance of developing affordable and accessible technology for small-scale farmers. They also touch on the concentration of ag tech solutions on large-scale farms and the potential for innovation in serving the majority of farmers who operate on smaller scales. The conversation...

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, host Nathan Faleide interviews Randy Barker, CEO of Intent, a company in the AgTech space. They discuss the evolution of precision agriculture practices from Western Canada and the US, the challenges of proving the effectiveness of AgTech solutions, and the role of AI and ML in agriculture. They also touch on the importance of agronomy and the need for practicality and skepticism when it comes to adopting new technologies. The conversation explores the challenges and debates surrounding the adoption of new agricultural technologies and equipment. It delves into the dilemma faced by farmers...

Summary

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, I interview Michael Ott, CEO of Cquesta and former CEO and founder of Rantizo. We discuss the use of drones in agriculture, specifically in the area of spraying crops. Michael shares his experience in the ag tech industry and how he got into drones and spraying. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in the drone spraying market. Later in the conversation, we delve into Cquesta, a company that uses gene editing technology to modify root architecture in crops, allowing them to tolerate stress and store carbon underground. We discuss...

Summary

In this conversation, I interview Paul Schrimpf, an expert in ag tech and precision agriculture. We discuss Paul's background in journalism and his journey into the world of agriculture. We also explore the evolution of ag technology, including the impact of auto-steer systems and the rise of software in agriculture. We speculate on the next big innovation in the industry and the challenges of automation and consolidation. The conversation explores the challenges and complexities of adopting agricultural technologies in the farming industry. We discuss the disconnect between technology developers and farmers, the lack of g...

Summary

In this conversation, Nathan Faleide interviews Carter Williams, a leading voice in the conversation around technology and agriculture. Carter shares his background in aerospace engineering and his experience in developing innovative technologies. They discuss the intersection of health and food, the challenges of implementing technology in the agriculture industry, and the complexities of the farm bill. They also touch on the need for simplifying and digitizing processes in crop insurance reporting. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of technology and innovation in improving the efficiency and sustainability of the food system. The conversation explores the challenges...

Summary

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, Nathan Faleide interviews Dave Swain owner of Vision Technology Management a consultant company he create being an expert in AgTech and precision ag. They discuss the challenges of implementing technology in agriculture and the importance of focusing on the basics. They highlight the need for proper equipment maintenance and calibration, as well as the importance of accurate yield data. They also touch on the limitations of high-resolution imagery and the need for a solid business model in the ag tech industry. The conversation highlights several key themes in the ag...

Summary

In this conversation, Nathan Faleide interviews Kip Pendleton about the adoption and challenges of biologicals in agriculture. Kip shares his journey in the industry, from working in the seed industry to focusing on information and data collection through precision equipment. He believes that biologicals will be the next wave in agriculture, providing sustainable solutions for feeding the world. However, there are challenges in verifying the effectiveness of biologicals and managing expectations. Kip emphasizes the importance of harnessing and utilizing agricultural data to make better decisions and drive technological adoption. He also discusses the global competition in...

Summary

In this podcast episode, Nathan Faleide interviews Steven Rao about his experience in the agriculture industry as the former CEO of Farm MarketiD and the use of data in agribusiness. They discuss the challenges and misconceptions surrounding farmer data, the importance of transparency and value in data sharing, and the integration of personal data with agricultural data. They also explore the role of consumer data and analytics in understanding farmer personas and making better business decisions. 

The conversation highlights the need for data collaboration and the potential of machine learning in...

Summary

In this episode, Nathan Faleide interviews Gottfried Pessl, the founder of Pessl Instruments, about his background in agriculture and the development of weather stations. Gottried shares his experiences growing up on a small farm in Austria and his transition into entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of weather stations in agriculture and the impact of the Internet of Things on their development. Gottfried also draws parallels between the historical adoption of tractors and the current state and future of weather stations. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the potential for robotics in agriculture and t...

Summary

In this episode, Nathan interviews Robert Saik of CEO and Founder of AGvisorPRO™ and visorPRO™ and former CEO of DOT (acquired by Raven Technologies, no CNH) and founder of AgriTrend (acquired by Trimble, now AGCO) about the adoption of agricultural technology and the challenges faced by farmers. They discuss the slow adoption rates of ag tech and the complexity of the technology. They also explore the potential of precision agriculture and the impact of acquisitions in the industry. 

The conversation touches on the role of biologicals in agriculture and the future of input companies. They...

Introducing the debut episode of 'Ag Uncensored', a podcast diving into the fascinating world of Agricultural Technology. Uncover the unvarnished truths about the industry with your host, Nathan Faleide. This episode focuses on Farmers Edge, a pioneering Ag-tech company, and its new leadership under CEO Vibhore Arora. Journey with us as we explore their personal narratives, intertwined with the company's evolution, and their visions for the future of the ag-tech industry.

In an engaging conversation with Vibhore Arora, who has an illustrious career stretching from India to Amazon Canada, we delve into his unique shift to Farmers...

A quick overview about what this podcast is about with your host Nathan Faleide.