Future of Agriculture

Latest Episodes:

Future of Agriculture 064: Technology for Grazing Management With Byron Palmer and Christine Su of PastureMap Aug 02, 2017

Show notes

Grasslands and grazing cattle go hand in hand. Yet, grazing cattle can be a complex process with things like dynamic business practices, the ecology of the grasses, and the biology of the animal all needing to be considered. Grass-fed beef and other grass-fed agricultural products are also fueling the modern-day demand for pastures and grazing opportunities.

I recently came across a business that is trying to solve issues associated with pasture management and cattle grazing. Christine Su is the co-founder and CEO of PastureMap, a platform that collects data on different areas that are being used for grazing. It helps build on that data to help with making informed decisions on the entire process.

Byron Palmer is a livestock rancher who grazes cattle in Sonoma County. He is one of the people doing the work and putting future agricultural ideas into practice. He is the owner of Grounded Grasslands. Byron grazes cattle for farmers and manages pastures. Today, I talk with Christine about PastureMap, and with Byron about how he uses the software.

“We have a lot of respect for the tradition of planned grazing and the emotional component, so we follow adaptive planned grazing methodology very closely.” - Christine Su

This Week on the Future of Agriculture Podcast:

How PastureMap helps grazing managers who practice multi-paddock adaptive grazing
Christine’s background and how she went from a consumer with a business background to reconnecting with the land and food she eats
Features of the initial app prototype that could be accessed from a smartphone
An iterative process of launching live modules and beta testing future prototypes
How their mission is to help ranchers make more profits by building healthy grasslands
Focusing on soil carbon data and rewarding farmers by sharing positive data
How it’s not profitable to graze without productive pasture planning

Check Out PastureMap & Christine Su & Byron Palmer Across the Net:

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:

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

Future of Agriculture 063: Travel The World Learning About Agriculture with Nuffield Scholar Matt Hocken Jul 26, 2017

Show notes

What do you think about an all-expenses-paid trip around the world for six months to learn about agriculture? Does it sound too good to be true? It is too good, but it is also true. This adventure is made possible through Nuffield scholarship. Today’s guest, Matt Hocken, is a husband, father, dairy farmer from New Zealand, and a Nuffield Scholar who has travelled globally to research on his chosen topic of specialization - agricultural innovation.

Matt joins me today to share the details of this amazing scholarship program that’s been created for the advancement of agriculture in a global aspect. He gives an overview of the life of a Nuffield scholar and its new international scholarship program. He also shares how this can influence your view of the world and the agricultural industry.

“I think I’ve learned a lot from just observing what you do [in the US]. [Innovation] is also a cultural context.” – Matt Hocken

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Specifics on the Nuffield scholarship, their scholars, and a list of participating countries
Requirements and qualifications for scholarship application
Other programs Nuffield scholars take part in while on their trip
What's expected of a Nuffield scholar
Elements that Matt looks into in other countries as he studies and writes about agricultural innovation
Matt’s agricultural background and the business model he and his family use in their business
Backstory of how the Nuffield Scholarship came to be and how it is funded

Check Out Matt Hocken Across the Net:

Matt Hocken on Twitter

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 062: Farmer Feedback on AgTech Ideas with Kevin Heikes and Kyle Morrow. Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

Today’s guests allow us to look at agricultural technology and entrepreneurship from two different perspectives. Kevin Heikes is part of the IN10T, a digital agricultural company that created Farmer Trials. Farmer Trials is a platform that connects people who have new ideas and want to test them on real farms. These people get to work with real farmers who have the skill and resources to assess whether these ideas solve real problems that farmers face.

Also with me is Kyle Morrow, a farmer in Indiana who is currently a customer of Farmer Trials. Kyle shares his experience working with the company and allows us to look at matters from a practical approach since one of the goals of the program is to see things from different lenses.

Today, we see that all new and innovative agricultural technology is nothing until tested and proven effective on the farm. Kevin shares how art and science are combined as a growth strategy used by Farmer Trials; the communication process among the farmer, the ag entrepreneur, and Farmer Trials; and when entrepreneurs can approach Farmers Trials if they have new insights and project proposals.

“Having something like Farmer Trials where they can try multiple things within a given year accelerate the learning curve to utilizing the data.” - Kyle Morrow

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Problems that existed on the farm before Farmer Trials came along
Requirements farmers had to meet in the past if a company wanted to do farm trials
Tasks that Farmer Trials manage and facilitate for agribusinesses
Working in the business versus working on the business
Why the services offered by Farmer Trials are appealing to companies both big and small
How Farmer Trials plan to use the grant awarded them by Kansas Department of Agriculture
Who determines the compensation for the projects

Check Out Kevin Heikes Across the Net:

Check Out Kyle Morrow Across the Net:

Kyle Morrow on Twitter

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 061: 5 Takeaways From The First 60 Episodes Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

While having guests and learning from people with different perspectives are the typical setup of this show, stopping to reflect on the things that have been discussed and talked about is an excellent way of seeing the learning, growth, and future direction of the program. With this said, today, I’m going to deviate from my normal program flow to look back and see where the journey has taken us.

Today, I’m going to talk about the five big takeaways I have learned from the first 60 episodes of the Future of Agriculture podcast. I also explain how these five big things determine the direction and content of the program.

Agriculture should be looked at from as many different lenses as possible. That’s where we’re going to get the ideas.

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Agricultural technology and agricultural entrepreneurship
What agricultural education is about and why it is important
Defining cooperative extensions and how this reinforces agricultural education
Solving serious problems like environmental impact, sustainability, social issues, hunger, and food waste
The generational aspect to each agriculture story
Agriculture and empathy
How we can practice empathy together in the next 60 episodes of the program

Mentioned in This Episode:

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 060: Building Apps for Agriculture with Peter Schott of Myriad Mobile Jul 05, 2017

Show notes

Peter Schott grew up in a family with technologically inclined parents who used computers on their farm even from way back in 1984. Because of this, Peter's curiosity on the possibilities that technology can bring in solving agricultural problems grew. As a result, Peter and another guy from his college dorm decided to work together on offering solutions through mobile apps by establishing their own company called Myriad Mobile.

Today, Peter talks about the significant role that mobile apps play in the future of agriculture and the solution of current agricultural problems. He shares some excellent insights from two different perspectives - one from that of a farmer’s and the other of an entrepreneur. He also explains the significance of knowing your audience, your vision, and the problem you want to solve when thinking of a good app to pursue.

“I think the industry is best served if people spend more time listening to their customers and working alongside them rather than telling them what they need.” – Peter Schott

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

How Peter’s family used computers on the farm in 1984
Biggest game-changer for technology on his farm from 1984 to the present
How Myriad Mobile came to be and the core of Myriad’s business
The platform he created as a result of a cooperative request
Challenges of having and creating a mobile team and where he found his success in sales
Similarities and differences between developing apps for agriculture and other fields
How farmers can differentiate good technology versus salesmanship
How powerful Twitter is in connecting with others in the same industry
A peak on the process entrepreneurs go through when engaging with a mobile app firm
The biggest unsolved problems in agriculture that can be solved by technology

Check Out Peter Schott Across the Net:

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 059: Why You Should Teach Agriculture - Part Two with Dr. Daniel Foster Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

Today’s episode is a continuation of a two-part series on why you should teach agriculture. In the previous episode, Dr. Daniel Foster, an educator at Pennsylvania State University, shared his insights about agriculture and agricultural education on a national scale. Dr. Foster not only makes a difference in the lives of young people, but also trains teachers who want to make a difference in the agricultural education outside the country.

Dr. Foster joins me today as he talks about agriculture and agricultural education on an international scale. He shares how he tried to help establish agricultural education in Guatemala and the inspiring story when Dr. Foster and his team of agricultural instructors had an intercultural agriculture trip to Korea.

“It’s okay to be scared but saddle up anyway because there’s a young person in this world, there’s a young person in America that needs you.” – Dr. Daniel Foster

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Possible reasons why there is a decrease in agriculture instructors in the U.S.
How agricultural businesses can offer assistance and support on ag programs
Why there are high rates of out-of-school and disengaged students aged 16 to 24 in Guatemala
Foster’s proposal regarding the development of Guatemala’s agricultural education
Why each agricultural teacher is required to do an individualized professional development plan
How Dr. Foster expands the global mindset of students
Other significant student learnings Dr. Foster hopes his students will discover
Challenges prospective agriculture educators face and how Dr. Foster can help instructors

Questions Ag Businesses Should Ask Ag Programs:

Where are the ag programs around me?
What do you have going on?
Where do you need assistance and help?
How can we help?

Check Out Dr. Daniel Foster Across the Net:

Email: foster@psu.ed
Daniel Foster on Twitter

Join our National Teach Agriculture Campaign!

As a primary supporter of the agricultural network, BASF proudly sponsors the National Teach Agriculture Campaign, a movement with a mission to raise awareness about the need to recruit and retain qualified and diverse agricultural teachers.

If you are interested in making a lasting impact in developing the future leaders of agriculture, visit NAAE.org for more details.

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 058: The Best STEM Delivery Tool with Dr Daniel Foster Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

Daniel Foster is a proponent of agricultural literacy and is currently an Agricultural Teacher Educator at The Pennsylvania State University. He credits his mother for his love for the industry which all started when his mom decided to move out of Texas to Arizona to further her career in agriculture. He was just 15 going 16 at the time and was a starter on his school’s football team, so he considers this part of his life as a fun transition.

In Arizona, he decided to pursue a degree in agriculture and continue his studies until he eventually got his doctorate at Ohio State. To this day, he recalls never really wanting to teach agriculture. That is until February of his senior year as a student teacher. It was then he realized he wanted to keep doing this, teaching young minds about the importance and future of agriculture, for the rest of his life.

On today’s episode, Daniel talks about how his mom inspired him to pursue agricultural studies, why he decided to become a student teacher, the importance of Ag literacy, and his thoughts on Ag Educators.

“It's a lot more fun helping a kid discover what they have inside through agriculture than it is trying to twist the arm of an elected official to recognize the importance of our industry.” – Dr. Daniel Foster

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

What contributes to the Ag teacher shortage?
Do rural areas need better Ag programs?
What does Ag literacy success look like?
Why should Ag literacy be relevant to everybody?
How Ag literacy can cause you to make better lifestyle choices.
Why the engine of Ag education is the educator.
Core pain points causing attrition in the ranks of Ag teachers.
The importance of facilitating and utilizing support programs in Ag education.
His goal of funding a female agricultural production operation in every continent.

Check Out Daniel FosterAcross the Net:

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!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

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

Future of Agriculture 057: Diversity and Inclusion in Agriculture with Marcus Hollan of the Cultivating Change Foundation Jun 14, 2017

Show notes

Today’s guest grew up in Mariposa, California and has viewed the world from different lenses as a youth through the 4-H Youth Program. Marcus Hollan attributes his distinctiveness and success to his involvement in such programs when he was younger which allowed him to embrace the diversity of others and understand the importance of inclusion in a community. Marcus is one of the founders of the Cultivating Change Foundation, an organization that elevates and values the LGBTQ community within the agriculture industry.

In today’s episode, Marcus talks about the roles that diversity, inclusion, equality, and equity play in the workplace - especially in agriculture. As the chief learning officer of Studio 5, Marcus also shares the organization’s goals, the business case for promoting agriculture, and how the corporate equality index has become a significant tool to know more about how open a company is to embracing racial, cultural, religious, and gender orientation differences.

“There is also power in recognizing our differences; in celebrating and honoring who we are.” – Marcus Hollan

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Defining diversity, inclusion, equality, and equity
What people want - equality versus equity
Why you should ask purposeful and intentional questions
What inspired Marcus to launch Cultivating Change Foundation
The goals of the foundation
Challenges Marcus faced in starting Cultivating Change
Defining the corporate equality index and its function

Join us at the 2017 Cultivating Change Summit!

On June 21 to 23, the third annual Cultivating Change Summit will take place in Sacramento, California. Learn from the excellent speakers, fantastic workshop presenters, and the 8-people panel that will tackle the future of agriculture through the lens of diversity and inclusion as they come up with plans of actions as to how we can better serve the agriculture industry.

Be a part of history-in-the-making by checking out Cultivating Change Website today!

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture 056: Old Farm with New Ideas with Coley Jones Drinkwater of Richland Farms Dairy Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

Coley Jones Drinkwater belongs to a third-generation family of farmers who tend to and sustain the Richlands Dairy Farm in Blackstone, Virginia. Richlands Farm has been a dairy farm since the 1950s. Coley’s story makes you see life in agriculture from different perspectives - a multigenerational angle, a sustainability angle, and an entrepreneurship angle.

On today’s episode, Coley talks about the inspiring story of how her grandparents started and pursued the farm as they relied on agriculture in raising and sending their five children to college. She also explains how she and her family decided not to sell the farm during one of its trying times with the challenges, pressures, and sacrifices she and her family made to keep the farm and pursue their own creamery in spite of the denial of her initial proposal.

“I hope in building the creamery that maybe that is something that I can do for someone else’s family as well where you can just come, get some ice cream. Sit on the porch. Just breathe and take a moment to be together as a family because that to me is really what makes farming worth all the sacrifice.” – Coley Jones Drinkwater

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

The crops that Coley and her family grow on the farm
What to expect during the farm’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Fall Festivals
The farm’s first ever “Dinner on the Dairy” that’s happening on June 23
Why the first ice cream flavor gives honor to Coley’s grandmother
Coley’s frustration about misleading labels and marketing strategies concerning truth and honesty
The hardest part in farming for Coley since she came back to the farm full-time
What gives Coley hope and purpose in life

Check Out Coley Jones Drinkwater Across the Net:

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!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

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

Future of Agriculture 055: Grain Entrapment and How an Idea Becomes a Feature Film with Sam Goldberg from Silo The Film May 31, 2017

Show notes

Today’s guest is an independent movie producer from New York City. Sam Goldberg grew up in Manhattan without any background in agriculture. He was introduced to agriculture when a filmmaker approached him for a concept about grain entrapment, a real and grave danger that farmers and other members of the community are exposed to. Seeing the significance of the issue socially, Sam currently is raising funds for the operation and completion of the movie titled Silo The Film.

On today’s episode, Sam talks about the progress he and his team have made in the production of Silo. He also shares why he thinks this movie is socially relevant and his stand on why he wanted to pursue this film in spite of the timespan they need to devote to complete it. He also mentions some of the things that Sam and his team are currently working on like fund-raising, casting, and searching for the right location to shoot the movie.

“This, to me, represents a potential bridge for conversation where a segment of the population can be humanized in such a way that is relatable to anybody.” – Sam Goldberg

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

Overview and plot of Silo The Film
What compelled Sam and his business partners to pursue this project
The social significance of this film
Reasons for filming a documentary
Response of the people who viewed the short film at the Tribeca Film Festival
The overall cost of the project and how the cost is divided
How the revenue side of film works
How Sam found the grain entrapment expert his team is working with on the film

Check Out Sam Goldberg Across the Net:

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is a part of a network called 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!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected