What would possess a hospital IT expert to start raising rare ducks and geese? Apricot Valley Waterfowl is not your typical poultry farm. In fact, one of Colin Davis' goals is to be the exact opposite of a conventional farm. At the end of the day preservation farming still has to pay the bills to be sustainable.

www.apricotvalleywaterfowl.com/

#agriculture #rural #farming #family #waterfowl #ducks #geese #preservation #sustainable #heritage 

Today I'm heading over the border to Sunny Shropshire to talk to farmer and co-founder of Small Robot Company, Sam Watson Jones @samjwj @smallrobotco

We talk about his family's farm near Newport where they've been for 4 generations, and the various enterprises they have going on there, and also Sam's decision to become a farmer whilst studying english literature at Newcastle University.

We go into the various job's he during the 5 years he spent away from the farm, including teaching at a tough inner city secondary school, and working for a global consultancy firm. We also discuss some of the changes he made after returning to the farm, including why he felt diversifying the business's income streams was so important.

We then talk about Small Robot company at length, including how it initially came about, how the robots (Tom, Dick, Harry, and Wilma) work, what they're trying to achieve with it, and how robotics are going to change agriculture sooner than we all think.

Will the robots rise up and murder him in his sleep? Who knows, but in the meantime, it was fantastic to talk to such an enterprising and entrepreneurial man as Sam, and learn more about Small Robot Company.

Check it out folks..

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 25% discount on 'poultry health online' sign up now. To sign up for the free course 'Understanding food supply Systems' please visit www.futurelearn.com/courses/food-supply-systems

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

www.rockandrollfarming.com

Georg Banauch is a molecular biotechnologist with extensive knowledge of synthetic biology and biofuels research. He is also a Co-Founder and Development Director for HATCH, an accelerator program focused exclusively on the aquaculture industry seeking to develop and scale disruptive aquaculture startups.

Joel Harris is Ag Startup Engine’s Co-Director. Ag Startup Engine is a privately-owned accelerator program that funds AgTech entrepreneurs and supports them through mentorship and funding. Joel’s responsibility includes coordinating investor relations and mentoring new entrepreneurs.

Georg and Joel join me today to discuss how their accelerator programs work, the type of ideas they want to support, and what makes each company unique from other accelerators. Georg explains how they developed the idea to launch HATCH, why they focused on aquaculture startups, and how aquaculture can help the world grow. Joel shares what their company is all about and the checklist they use when selecting companies as well as how Ag Startup Engine can help business owners. Joel also offers great advice when dealing with investors from a new entrepreneur’s viewpoint.

"For new entrepreneurs, a small pat on the back can go a long way." - Joel Harris

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What is HATCH accelerator and how it got started.
• Their motivation in starting Hatch Accelerator.
• How their accelerator program works and their interactions with startups.
• An estimate on how many aquaculture startups are out there.
• What Hatch looks for in startups and ideas they want to see.
• What excites Georg on the future of aquaculture?
• Joel Harris’ perspective as an entrepreneur and someone working with entrepreneurs.
• Joel’s best advice on how to succeed in growing an AgTech startup.
• Is Ag Startup Engine open to startups worldwide?
• How Joel motivates budding entrepreneurs into achieving their goals.
• Ag Startup Engine's programs and how they help entrepreneurs.
• Joel's advice to new entrepreneurs when it comes to communicating with investors.

Key Takeaways:

• Aquaculture is efficient compared to others in the agricultural industry.
• Working with an accelerator is an opportunity, but where you’ll end up after that is up to you.

Connect with Georg Baunach:

• HATCH
• Email: georg@hatch.blue

Connect with Joel Harris

• Ag Startup Engine

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. 

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 

Pam Smith is one of the most respected ag media icons, of all times. She's "been there/done that" and then wrote the story. Listen as she talks about being a woman reporter in the early days and how she sees ag media now.

Please visit our sponsors:

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Succession planning is what you do when you want to overthrow the king. Why Transition Planning is the better way to frame a difficult conversation. This and other great advice from Farm Family coach Elaine Froese.

www.farmfamilycoach.com

www.elainefroese.com

Andrew Diprose is the CEO at Rootwave, a UK tech startup that aims to provide a sustainable and efficient solution to weed problems by zapping them from the root up. The goal is to reduce weeds without using chemicals which could help solve soil contamination issues. His role is to lead the product and technology department, making sure the technology is safe and effective when it is commercially available in 2020.

Andrew joins me today to discuss Rootwave, what inspired him to start this type of technology, and how it works. He explains the need for clean methods of killing weeds relative to soil health and describes some of the ways this technology is superior to the conventional means of removing weeds in farms. He also shares his prediction of what agriculture will look like in the future.

“Electricides will be a benefit to society. It will better the environment and the health of individuals.” - Andrew Diprose

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What are electricides and how does it work in agriculture?
• Why Andrew believes electricides are the best alternative to herbicides.
• What inspired him to come up with the idea of inventing electricides.
• What makes electricides different from using fire and other thermal methods?
• How electricides are energy efficient and where the energy comes from.
• Why electricides won’t adversely affect general soil health.
• The type of plants they aim to use the technology initially.
• The current stage the technology is currently in and when it is expected to become available commercially.
• How Andrew envisions agriculture looking differently in the future.

Key Takeaways:

• With soil contamination being rampant all over the world, the need for a localized yet efficient and sustainable herbicide is critical.
• Electricides protect crops from unwanted vegetation without collateral damage.

Resources Mentioned:

• FoA118 Autonomous Swarm-Enabled Tractors with Zack James of Rabbit Tractors

Connect with Andrew Diprose:

• Rootwave

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. 

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 

North Dakota barley grower Gary Beck and Pat Hayes, Professor at Oregon State, discuss how this ancient grain is evolving with new traits and growing practices.

Rodney Smith Jr. is a man with a huge heart. Originally from Bermuda, he has now started Raising Men Lawn Care Service. It is teaching kids work ethics and compassion 

https://weareraisingmen.com/

Please visit our sponsors

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Amanda Ruller is badass athlete and Olympic hopeful that talks about winning a car on the Price is Right, and her thoughts on GMO's

Making that white, liquid gold in the Pacific Northwest, Dwayne is a firm believer in free-market capitalism. We prove that it's possible to disagree with your neighbours and still be friends. Supply management, fair trade practices and the global dairy market.

Tony Chen is the Co-Founder of Manolin Inc., a new startup in the aquaculture space. Manolin is a software company that aims to accelerate resource sharing between salmon farms as well as prevent and manage sea lice outbreaks through digital health management. Before co-founding Manolin, Tony was developing software for the U.S. government and was only interested in aquaculture as a hobby. His fascination grew to new heights when he discovered how oyster farming works and the plight of its farmers.

Tony joins me today to share his thoughts on aquaculture and why he thinks it’s going to radically change the way we look at agriculture in the near future. He explains what aquaculture is all about, how he believes it can contribute to solving the world food production crisis, and how their company aims to help ocean farmers. He discusses some of the issues of aquaculture and how they tie with the ocean’s current problems. He also describes why they worked with HATCH among other startup accelerators in the industry.

“Aquaculture is another industrial revolution and the world is starting to recognize that.” - Tony Chen

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What is Aquaculture and how can it impact the future of agriculture?
• Why he focused on Aquaculture despite having a degree in Computer Science from MIT.
• What is Manolin and what do they aim to do?
• Their clients and what their operation might look like.
• Why they pursued a partnership with the startup accelerator HATCH.
• The challenges and benefits of being a U.S. company operating in a foreign country.
• His advice to startups planning to work with accelerators.
• Why people need to pay more attention to aquaculture.
• How their app works and what it can provide to its users.

Key Takeaways:

• We're at a stage where there is an opportunity for regeneration in the ocean.
• Knowing what's happening at a nearby farm is just as important as what's happening at your specific farm.
• The lack of aquaculture is one of the larger problems when you think about food production globally.

Resources Mentioned:

• HATCH

Connect with Tony Chen:

• Manolin
• Manolin Aqua
• Email: tony@manolinaqua.com 

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. 

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 

Tonight I'm thrilled to be heading up to beautiful Northumberland to talk to Farmer and writer, Sally Urwin @PintSizedFarmer

We start off by talking about the book she's written about her farming life (due out in April!), how it all came about, and the whole writing process, before moving on to chat about her early life growing up in North Tyneside by the sea. 

We hear about the 'immensely boring office job' she did after University, and how eventually, in the early days of internet dating & after searching for a 'man under 5'8' who lived in the countryside', she met her future husband, Steve. 

We talk about her early days on the farm, and how much she had to learn, before we discuss their diversification into a brewery and wedding venue, and some of the difficulties it caused them.

We talk about 2018, and what a difficult year it's been for them, which led, with Steve having lost his part time job in January, and financial pressure building, to them contacting the charity RABI, and receiving financial help.

We also hear about her Generalised Anxiety Disorder, what it is, and how she copes with it, partly with the help of some awesome drugs!

All this, and much, much more. 

Sally's one of my favourite people to follow on social media, not only because she's incredibly funny, but because she's so honest about her farming life, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to her tonight. 

Check it out folks.. 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

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 

Kim LeQuire is a farmer from North Carolina. Listen as she talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

Please visit our sponsor:

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Manitoulin Island is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. It also boasts the largest island in a freshwater lake that’s on an island in a freshwater lake anywhere in the world…. John McNaughton has to deal with rocks, trees, surprising predators and parts runs that involve a 45 minute ferry ride, but this BMO Farm Family of the Year recipient wouldn’t trade it for all the land in Perth County.

Jim Loar is CEO and President of Cool Planet, an innovations company that seeks to improve upon the current agricultural technologies we have today to facilitate increased profits and crop production at a low cost in a sustainable manner. Jim has over 30 years of experience in the industry and worked with big corporations like Wilbur-Ellis Company and Griffin LLC. He has a Bachelor of Nautical Science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and obtained his Master's degree in Business administration from Ohio University.

Jim joins me today to discuss his ideas around soil health and why he says it’s the future of agricultural innovations. He explains what soil health is and what exactly makes soil healthy. He introduces a new project called Stories From The Soil and describes its purpose and what he wants it to achieve. Jim also discusses how improving soil health benefits not only the environment but also the economy around the agricultural industry.

“Soil health really is the next evolution of agriculture.” - Jim Loar

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Why is soil health so important in agriculture?
• Why he began focusing on innovating soil for agricultural purposes.
• The properties of healthy soil and what makes soil not healthy.
• The tools available to the farmer to help make the soil healthy.
• How Cool Planet plans to initiate the innovations of soil health.
• The goal of launching "Stories From The Soil" and what you can expect from it.

Key Takeaways:

• Farmers have always been focused on health and it's a priority that's passed to the next generation.
• Improving soil health positively affects soil biology which translates to better crops and bigger profits.

Resources Mentioned:

• Biochar with Jim Loar of Cool Planet

Connect with Jim Loar:

• Cool Planet
• Stories From The Soil

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. 

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

Tonight for this very special Rock & Roll Farming, I'm absolutely delighted to be heading up to Scotland to talk to farmer Doug Avery @DougAvery12 of Marlborough, New Zealand, where he's currently on a speaking tour. 

I'm not even going to write much here, except to say that Doug is one of the most inspirational men I've ever had the pleasure to talk to, and the work he's doing to help other people get through difficult times, after hitting rock bottom himself in 1998, is extraordinary. 

His book, The Resilient Farmer, is widely available online.

Don't miss this one folks.. 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

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 

Andrew Klein is an entrepreneur, a family man, and a champion for children with Down syndrome. However, one of his unknown accomplishments is overcoming PTSD from active combat. Listen to this very honest account about returning from war.

Please visit our sponsor:

https://www.farmersedge.ca/

Sometimes to be successful you have to have a little luck. Niche markets, why Canada is an export powerhouse and what me and Stewart really think of Americans when no one is listening.

Zack James is the Founder of Rabbit Tractors, a team that designs and builds swarm-enabled, compact, and autonomous farm equipment. His company’s aim is to help farmers save time and money while increasing productivity. He has a degree in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and attended University of Michigan Law School with a focus on corporate governance and securities.

Zack joins me today to share his company’s ideas and solutions when it comes to increasing farm efficiency. He introduces the concept of Rabbit Tractors, describes how they developed the idea and explains how it can improve farm productivity. He also describes how they incorporated autonomy in their technology and how farmers can simply run their machines with smartphones.

“What autonomy will do is let us break the paradox of one farmer driving one tractor at a time.” - Zack James

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What is Rabbit Tractors?
• How Zack got the inspiration to start the company.
• His unconventional background prior to starting his company.
• How having smaller farm equipment can help farmers with their work.
• How Rabbit Tractors products can help farmers save time and increase productivity
• To what point is their technology autonomous?
• Can Rabbit Tractors replace 100% of what farmers use?
• The current status of Rabbit Tractors.
• The qualities that made the company attractive to accelerators
• Their current business focus and their plans for the future.

Key Takeaways:

• Most ag tech companies have a great technology component but don't have a good delivery method for it.

Resources Mentioned:

• AgLaunch

Connect with Zack James:

• Rabbit Tractors
• Email: zack@rabbittractors.com

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. 

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 

Tonight I'm delighted to be heading up to Sunny Ayrshire in Scotland to talk to dairy farmer Robert Drummond @robwdrummond

We talk about his early life in Lanarkshire, after his Parents moved over from County down in Northern Ireland when he was a few months old, and how they built up the family business over the years.

We discuss the challenges they faced with some short term land leases, and the difficult time when his Father died of cancer at just 57.

We go into the years spent working back in Northern Ireland on his Uncle's farm, with the lovely @S_JDrummond now on the scene, and how a change in situation led them looking for their own farm.

We talk about their decision to go into organic conversion on the farm, and what that entails, with their milk now being sold through a coop, to a local producer retailer.

Robert then talks at length about the extremely difficult times he and Sarah Jane have gone through, with seven miscarriages, and how they've coped with it, and are involved with raising awareness and helping others in similar situations through #SayTheirName. We then hear about their decision to adopt, and how three beautiful little girls recently arrived at their new home with them.

All this and much, much more.

Robert and Sarah Jane are two of my favourite people to follow on social media, and have become good friends. I couldn't be happier for them that they've finally got the family they've always wanted, and it was a genuine pleasure to talk to Rob tonight.

Check it out folks.. 

Episode Sponsors:

AFTP - Agrifood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses us the word 'podcast' at check out!

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 

Jake Franklin is a 3rd generation electrician that has a passion for the outdoors. Listen as he talks about his podcast and getting others involved in foraging.

Lesley and I talk to Mike and Gail who were tinder before tinder was cool

Unity is strength - It is time for agriculture to collaborate