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Farm & Rural Ag Network

The best agricultural podcast content around the internet. Hear from farmer, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and titans of agribusiness about the issues facing modern agriculture.
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Now displaying: September, 2019
Sep 27, 2019

Mike Swidersky is a husband, father and a grazer of cattle and sheep in the high plains of Ontario (Melanchton). Listen to Mike as he talks about lessons learned through his work as a community pasture manager and farmer. Photo cred:

 

Sep 25, 2019

 

Shonda Warner is the Owner of Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners, an asset management business that specializes in investing in the agricultural industry. She has over 25 years of experience in financial asset management and once held the position of Executive Director at Goldman Sachs. Shonda gained experience in trading grains from her career at Cargill in Kansas City and Minneapolis.

 

Shonda joins me today to discuss how Chess Ag Full Harvest works and how it makes investing in agriculture easier. She shares her inspiration for starting the company, the systems they have in place, and their commitment to having a good impact on the environment. Shonda also shares her advice to those who want to start a business in the ag industry.

 

 

 

“We need to be good stewards of the earth and the communities in which we’re active.” - Shonda Warner

 

 

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • How she formed the idea of starting Chess Ag Full Harvest Partners
  • The company's first investments and their returns.
  • The problems they want to solve involving ancillary services to make farming a successful venture.
  • Her sales pitch to investors and the projects she proposed.
  • Their commitment to the environment and the community.
  • The scale of their operations and their plans for further expansion.
  • The products they produce in their facilities.
  • Her advice to the young generation who are interested in starting their own ag business.

 

 

 

Resources mentioned:

 

 

 

Connect with Shonda Warner:

 

 

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

Join the Conversation!

To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!

 

Share the Ag-Love! 

 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram

Sep 23, 2019

How to identify electromotive interference in your equipment.

Sep 23, 2019

Aleana Young took a leap of faith and opened her own specialty cheese shop in Regina, Saskatchewan. Now she deals directly with the end consumer everyday, providing them with poetic descriptions of her imported cheeses. Listen as she tells Rob and Lesley what she has learned from her customers and how it is all about the cheese experience.

Sep 19, 2019

In this episode, CEO Gary Wickham outlines some recent successes for this innovative precision-farming solution, assisting farmers meet their twin profitability and sustainability goals, whilst protecting the environment. Dublin-based MagGrow is a patented and proprietary technology that helps solve the problem of droplet formation, experienced within conventional pesticide spray applications.

Sep 19, 2019

Cody Creelman, Disruptor Cow Vet on life changes, keeping up in the digital world and jumping in with both feet.

https://codycreelman.com/

Sep 18, 2019

FOA171 Synthetic Biology with Dr. John Cumbers of SynBioBeta

 

Dr. John Cumbers is the founder of SynBioBeta. SynBioBeta prides itself as the premier innovation network for innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and biological engineers. Their focus is introducing synthetic biology innovations to improve the human condition and make life more sustainable. John is a recipient of multiple grants and awards from NASA and the National Academy of Sciences for his work in the industry. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry from Brown University, his MSc in Bioinformatics from Edinburgh University, and a degree in Computer Science with Information Engineering from the University of Hull.

 

John joins me today to discuss the potential of synthetic biology if applied to today’s agriculture sector. He explains what SynBioBeta stands for, what they want to accomplish, and the innovations we can look forward to as consumers. He shares his thoughts on lab-grown meat, the Anti-GMO crowds, and the future of Mars exploration. John also discusses what we can look forward to from their Beta Space Event.

 

 

 

“Synthetic biology is not actually what you do - it’s the way you do it.” - Dr. John Cumbers

 

 

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • What SynBioBeta is and what they aim to achieve with synthetic biology.
  • The innovations synthetic biology has made possible.
  • His thoughts on plant-based meats and cell-based meats.
  • How Rural America can benefit from what he calls the "Bio Belt."
  • What needs to happen to pursue a "Bio Belt" hub program.
  • How the Anti-GMO community reacts to their technological innovations.
  • Why everybody should have a bio strategy.
  • What extremophiles are and how they can help produce food in space.
  • His opinion on the future of Mars exploration.
  • What people can look forward to the Beta Space event.

 

 

 

Resources mentioned:

 

 

 

Connect with Dr. John Cumbers:

 

 

 

 

This episode is sponsored by Indigo Ag

 

What if surviving a drought began with just a microbe? What could accessing 10,000 buyers do for your agriculture business? Indigo Ag helps farmers improve profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health by working with growers to reimagine every aspect of the agriculture industry - from soil to sale.

 

To learn more about Indigo Ag and their mission to improve the environment and agriculture industry, visit IndigoAg.com/Questions

 

Indigo. From questions… we grow.

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

Join the Conversation!

To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!

 

Share the Ag-Love! 

 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram

Sep 17, 2019

Alyssa Badger is one of the most impressive people you'll ever meet. Listen as she talks about building her career without a college education, and struggling to overcome an assault.

Sep 16, 2019

Dr. Rachel Hay is a social scientist at James Cook University who has uncovered some insights into agtech adoption through her work in behaviour change. 

Rachel‘s PhD focused on agtech adoption, highlighting the importance of grazier women in the use and adoption of agtech. She found that women play a vital role in unlocking the potential of agtech adoption on-farm. 

Though the research is now a bit dated (it was published in 2014), Rachel’s insights still hold true and may be helpful for agtech companies looking to understand the industry and develop marketing strategies that can cut through the noise. 

Here are a few tips from Rachel’s research to help agtech vendors to reach their target audience and drive adoption:

  • Build trust and meaningful relationships with your producers. Though it may seem like this has to take time, Rachel highlights that content is king and relationships can be built digitally as well as in person. 

  • Be approachable and be seen. AgTech companies need to get out to producer events and engage with their customers, not just sell. 

  • Widen your marketing net, as decision makers are not always male! In fact, her research shows that it’s often the females who are doing the research and driving product adoption, both on-farm and for the back office. 

  • Don’t tell farmers what they need, listen to what they want. This should go without saying, and yet it’s something that tech vendors and extension agents alike get wrong. 


Do you have a story of women driving agtech adoption? Are there other tips that you’ve learned for building trust with producers? We’d love to hear them! 


You can find Rachel, a boutique pig farmer when she’s not writing or researching, on social media here: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRach4Research

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrachelhay/

Facebook page: The Engagement of Women & Technology in Agriculture

 

To delve more into Rachel’s research, check out:

https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/rachel.hay/

Technology adoption by rural women in Queensland, Australia: women driving technology from the homestead for the paddock

Sep 13, 2019

You need to understand the importance of proper valve clearance.
 

Sep 11, 2019

 

Dr. Poornima Parameswaran is the President and Co-Founder of Trace Genomics. Trace Genomics is a company that based its business around mapping living soil, analyzing its microbial content, and helping growers maximize yield potential without sacrificing sustainability. Poornima’s goal is to build the world’s most massive actionable body of soil intelligence, allowing even ordinary farmers to have access to expert information on what’s underground. Poornima earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine, her entrepreneurial skills at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and her Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas at Austin.

 

Poornima joins me today to discuss how Trace Genomics seeks to improve farm yield and sustainability through genetic testing for soil. She shares the benefits of knowing which microbes are dominant in a particular farmland. She also explains how their analytics engine works, their process, and what a typical scenario using their technology would be like.

 

 

 

“There are two sides of the coin when you’re looking at what is causing production losses above ground.” - Dr. Poornima Parameswaran

 

 

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • The questions farmers have before submitting soil samples.
  • Diseases that can be prevented by genetic testing for soil
  • Knowing when it is a soil health issue instead of a disease problem.
  • Developing food in the perspective of sustainability and not just increased yields.
  • How they know which microbes are important for the soil.
  • The challenges that are top of mind to growers regarding soil health.
  • The action steps they can take based on the data they gathered from growers.
  • Variability of microbe samples in similar soil samples.
  • How they reconcile the difference between gene presence and gene expression.
  • Why they don't have that many companies as competition.

 

 

 

Connect with Dr. Poornima Parameswaran:

 

 

 

 

 

This episode is sponsored by Indigo Ag

 

What if surviving a drought began with just a microbe? What could accessing 10,000 buyers do for your agriculture business? Indigo Ag helps farmers improve profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health by working with growers to reimagine every aspect of the agriculture industry - from soil to sale.

 

To learn more about Indigo Ag and their mission to improve the environment and agriculture industry, visit IndigoAg.com/Questions

 

Indigo. From questions… we grow.

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

Join the Conversation!

To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!

 

Share the Ag-Love! 

 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram

Sep 10, 2019
 

One of ag YouTube's biggest stars. @BriansVideos talks about how he has never wanted to do anything else but farm.

Please visit our sponsor: https://www.degelman.com/

Sep 9, 2019

Millennials are a unique generation that have grown up with social media. Posting on social media has been part of their life. This has affected where they shop and what they eat. However, they are interested in facts and are willing to listen, which gives agriculture an opportunity to share information. Listen as Rob Sharkey and Lesley Kelly talk to David Coletto about this large segment of our population as they continue to drive decisions.

Sep 7, 2019

Always a pleasure to talk to Peter & Paula Hynes, & they're back on Rock & Roll Farming to talk about the Rearing to Go mental health workshop and charity auction that's taking place in Shrewsbury livestock market on 13th September 2019 

 

Episode Sponsors: 

Griffith Elder - Designers & Manufacturers of rugged weighing systems for heavy industrial use www.griffith-elder.com 

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 6, 2019

Mareese Keane is Platform Director with THRIVE, an AgriFood -Tech Accelerator, located at Salinas, California. In this episode, Mareese provides some background to her exciting work with THRIVE, recently acknowledged as being the, ‘Most Valuable AgriFood Tech Accelerator Programme’ in the United States by San Francisco based AgFunder.

Sep 5, 2019

Tonight I headed up to the North East of Scotland to talk to farmer and butcher, Jock Gibson.

We talked about his family's farm, his early career in engineering and the year he spent working on yachts, his decision to go back to the family business, the tragic loss of his parents and the importance of succession planning for farming families, and what he's doing now with the butchery and farm. 

Don't miss this one.. 

 

 

Episode Sponsors: 

Griffith Elder - Designers & Manufacturers of rugged weighing systems for heavy industrial use www.griffith-elder.com 

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

Podcast Partners:

Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com

Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Sep 5, 2019

Jamie Waldron is passionate about the art of butchery, and owns a 'roaving butchery enterprise', where he teaches the art throughout the province of Ontario.

Jamie has worked at some of the top butcher shops in Canada, helped craft menus and meat programs for restaurant groups, consulted for butcher shops, and has worked with and for abattoirs in Ontario.

In 2013, he wrote the Home Butchering Handbook. It covers all aspects of traditional meat cutting, from whole carcass to usable cuts.

Sep 4, 2019

Carter Malloy is the Founder and CEO of AcreTrader, an online platform that seeks to provide a bridge that connects investors and farm sellers. Before starting his company, Carter was a successful Managing Director at Stephens Inc., a large private investment bank. His passion for conservation and agriculture was drawn from his experience growing up in an Arkansas farming family. This passion eventually led to founding AcreTrader.

 

Carter joins me to share what AcreTrader can do for farm owners and people seeking a long-term investment. He explains how the platform works, what a typical transaction would look like, and some of the fees involved. Carter discusses the total amount of investments in farmland and why it’s still insignificant from the perspective of the entire ag industry. He also describes some of the reasons why farm sellers should use their platform over traditional methods.

 

 

“There's a lot of ways we can work with people who want to sell farmland. For us, it's exciting to bring new solutions to the market.” - Carter Malloy

 

 

 

 

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

 

  • Why he left a successful career in investments to start AcreTrader.
  • The amount of private equity money invested in farmland.
  • The requirements needed to bring the right deals out to the public.
  • Motivations for sellers to use AcreTrader as a platform.
  • How their platform works to provide information in a digestible format.
  • The deal flow and access to market barriers and how they break them.
  • How he describes the ideal seller on AcreTrader.
  • What they do when a partner exits the platform and their contract.

 

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

 

 

Connect with Carter Malloy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family! 

 

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today. 

 
 

Join the Conversation!

To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!

 

Share the Ag-Love! 

 

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! 

 

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: 

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter 
AgGrad on Facebook 
AgGrad on LinkedIn 
AgGrad on Instagram

Sep 3, 2019

How does a guy from New York end up making a movie about grain bin entrapment? Listen as I talk to Sam Goldberg about the movie Silo

SiloTheFilm.com

Please visit out advertiser: http://agnowmag.com/

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