Adoption isn't the final stage of ag innovation. And extension doesn’t just happen when workshops and fact sheets are added to research projects. Both need to be designed in from the beginning and supported for long enough for change to actually stick.The agriculture system invests heavily in research and development, but getting a new idea from “it works” to widespread, sustained practice is another challenge altogether.In this episode, Sarah Nolet talks with farmer, researcher, and extension expert <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/pip-job" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pip Job</a> about what we might be getting wrong about agricultural adoption.Pip has worked across <a href="https://landcareaustralia.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Landcare</a>, government, drought resilience, and venture-backed agtech startups. Her broad experience has given her a unique perspective on the different systems and incentives that shape how farmers adopt  (and sometimes stop adopting) new practices and technologies.She argues that extension is about transformation, not transaction. Rather than simply getting information or technology in front of farmers, effective extension needs to understand the motivations, capabilities, risk appetites, and social contexts that influence whether people actually change.The conversation also explores why agriculture could learn from fields such as behavioral science, implementation science, and human-centered design.In this episode, we explore:<ul><li>Why extension and sales aren't the same thing</li><li>Why “reach” doesn't necessarily equal impact</li><li>What causes farmers to disadopt new practices</li><li>Why extension is often treated as an afterthought to R&D</li><li>What agriculture could learn from health, education, and other sectors</li><li>How funding cycles and reporting requirements can work against genuine behavior change</li><li>Why co-design needs to continue throughout a project, rather than happening once at the beginning.</li><li>What a longer-term investment model for agricultural adoption could look like</li></ul>Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://www.csu.edu.au/research/southern-nsw-drought-resilience-hub/news-and-media/spoke-newsletter/spoke-stories/hub-on-the-pathway-to-impact" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hub on the pathway to impact - Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/five-lessons-in-effective-agtech-adoption" rel="noopener noreferrer">Five Lessons in (Effective) Agtech Adoption</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/why-good-agtech-doesnt-always-get-adopted-with-chad-godsey" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Good Agtech Doesn't Always Get Adopted, with Chad Godsey</a></li><li><a href="https://www.apen.org.au" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australasian Pacific Extension Network</a></li><li><a href="https://agrifutures.com.au/pdf-view/?pdf=AGF040-NRI-Agtech-A4-S3V1-Digital-Spreads&file=2018%2F10%2FAGF040-NRI-Agtech-A4-S3V1-Digital-Spreads" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accelerating Agtech Adoption - Agrifutures</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/advice-from-producers-on-getting-agtech-ready-series" rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting Agtech Ready - Agtech So What?</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/from-demo-farms-to-adoption-with-wine-australia" rel="noopener noreferrer">FromDemo Farms to Adoption with Wine Australia</a></li><li><a href="https://books.google.de/books/about/Change_Or_Die.html?id=D5DKh-HLMhgC&utm_" rel="noopener noreferrer">Book: Change or Die</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Adoption isn't the final stage of ag innovation. And extension doesn’t just happen when workshops and fact sheets are added to research projects. Both need to be designed in from the beginning and supported for long enough for change to actually stick. The agriculture system invests heavily in research and development, but getting a new idea from “it works” to widespread, sustained practice is another challenge altogether. In this episode, Sarah Nolet talks with farmer, researcher, and extension expert Pip Job about what we might be getting wrong about agricultural adoption. Pip has worked across Landcare, government, drought resilience, and venture-backed agtech startups. Her broad experience has given her a unique perspective on the different systems and incentives that shape how farmers adopt (and sometimes stop adopting) new practices and technologies. She argues that extension is about transformation, not transaction. Rather than simply getting information or technology in front of farmers, effective extension needs to understand the motivations, capabilities, risk appetites, and social contexts that influence whether people actually change. The conversation also explores why agriculture could learn from fields such as behavioral science, implementation science, and human-centered design. In this episode, we explore:Why extension and sales aren't the same thingWhy “reach” doesn't necessarily equal impactWhat causes farmers to disadopt new practicesWhy extension is often treated as an afterthought to R&DWhat agriculture could learn from health, education, and other sectorsHow funding cycles and reporting requirements can work against genuine behavior changeWhy co-design needs to continue throughout a project, rather than happening once at the beginning.What a longer-term investment model for agricultural adoption could look likeUseful Links:Hub on the pathway to impact - Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation HubFive Lessons in (Effective) Agtech AdoptionWhy Good Agtech Doesn't Always Get Adopted, with Chad GodseyAustralasian Pacific Extension NetworkAccelerating Agtech Adoption - AgrifuturesGetting Agtech Ready - Agtech So What?FromDemo Farms to Adoption with Wine AustraliaBook: Change or DieFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Adoption isn't the final stage of ag innovation. And extension doesn’t just happen when workshops and fact sheets are added to research projects. Both need to be designed in from the beginning and supported for long enough for change to actually stick.The agriculture system invests heavily in research and development, but getting a new idea from “it works” to widespread, sustained practice is another challenge altogether.In this episode, Sarah Nolet talks with farmer, researcher, and extension expert <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/pip-job" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pip Job</a> about what we might be getting wrong about agricultural adoption.Pip has worked across <a href="https://landcareaustralia.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Landcare</a>, government, drought resilience, and venture-backed agtech startups. Her broad experience has given her a unique perspective on the different systems and incentives that shape how farmers adopt&nbsp; (and sometimes stop adopting) new practices and technologies.She argues that extension is about transformation, not transaction. Rather than simply getting information or technology in front of farmers, effective extension needs to understand the motivations, capabilities, risk appetites, and social contexts that influence whether people actually change.The conversation also explores why agriculture could learn from fields such as behavioral science, implementation science, and human-centered design.In this episode, we explore:<ul><li>Why extension and sales aren't the same thing</li><li>Why “reach” doesn't necessarily equal impact</li><li>What causes farmers to disadopt new practices</li><li>Why extension is often treated as an afterthought to R&amp;D</li><li>What agriculture could learn from health, education, and other sectors</li><li>How funding cycles and reporting requirements can work against genuine behavior change</li><li>Why co-design needs to continue throughout a project, rather than happening once at the beginning.</li><li>What a longer-term investment model for agricultural adoption could look like</li></ul>Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://www.csu.edu.au/research/southern-nsw-drought-resilience-hub/news-and-media/spoke-newsletter/spoke-stories/hub-on-the-pathway-to-impact" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hub on the pathway to impact - Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/five-lessons-in-effective-agtech-adoption" rel="noopener noreferrer">Five Lessons in (Effective) Agtech Adoption</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/why-good-agtech-doesnt-always-get-adopted-with-chad-godsey" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Good Agtech Doesn't Always Get Adopted, with Chad Godsey</a></li><li><a href="https://www.apen.org.au" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australasian Pacific Extension Network</a></li><li><a href="https://agrifutures.com.au/pdf-view/?pdf=AGF040-NRI-Agtech-A4-S3V1-Digital-Spreads&amp;file=2018%2F10%2FAGF040-NRI-Agtech-A4-S3V1-Digital-Spreads" rel="noopener noreferrer">Accelerating Agtech Adoption - Agrifutures</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/advice-from-producers-on-getting-agtech-ready-series" rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting Agtech Ready - Agtech So What?</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/from-demo-farms-to-adoption-with-wine-australia" rel="noopener noreferrer">FromDemo Farms to Adoption with Wine Australia</a></li><li><a href="https://books.google.de/books/about/Change_Or_Die.html?id=D5DKh-HLMhgC&amp;utm_" rel="noopener noreferrer">Book: Change or Die</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.&nbsp;The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. &nbsp;

The missing link in agtech adoption, with Pip Job

Building a farm for an uncertain future means questioning some of the assumptions that have driven farming for decades.For <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-wallwork-12b1ba22a/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Simon Wallwork,</a> a brutally dry season in 2010 was the catalyst for rethinking his farming system. After years of predominantly cropping, he began looking more closely at climate data and using it to inform changes to his agronomic practices and make the jump to bring livestock back into the business.Since then, Simon's thinking has expanded from adapting to climate change, to actively preparing for what's next. He's been involved in <a href="https://agzero.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ag Zero</a>, a farmer-led initiative exploring agriculture's role in the energy transition, while on his own farm he's experimenting with carbon farming, electrification, and on-farm energy hosting.In this episode, Simon and Sarah explore what happens when farmers start thinking about technology, sustainability, and resilience not as separate issues, but as parts of the same system. For instance, rather than simply replacing a diesel tractor with an electric one, what happens when electrification and autonomy make the constraints of traditional farming systems start to disappear?They discuss:<ul><li>Why diversification can be an important part of building farm resilience</li><li>The shift from thinking about climate adaptation to agriculture's role in mitigation and the energy transition</li><li>How carbon farming can change the economics of marginal land</li><li>How autonomy changes the assumptions around machinery size and speed</li><li>Simon's farm microgrid and the role of solar and batteries</li><li>The potential role of electric tractors, trucks, and drone sprayers</li><li>Whether electrification and autonomy could reduce the pressure for farms to continually scale up</li><li>What energy independence could look like at the farm and regional level and why community ownership is critical</li><li>How sustainability requirements could increasingly influence market access, finance, and insurance</li></ul>Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/blog/fca_event/webinar-nature-friendly-farming/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Webinar: Nature Friendly Farming - Farmers for Climate Action</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/the-business-case-for-electrifying-agriculture-with-cherry-grower-mike-casey?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/agricultural-autonomy-and-new-ways-of-working-f35599f60bbb" rel="noopener noreferrer">Agricultural autonomy and new ways of working with SwarmFarm Robotics</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/have-we-hit-the-tipping-point-for-autonomy-in-ag-with-shane-thomas-and-matthew-pryor?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor</a></li><li><a href="https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2102_2022_A04/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Comparing science communication theory with participatory practice: case study of the Australian Climate Champion Program</a></li><li><a href="https://grdc.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">GRDC</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cfig.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corrigin Farm Improvement Group</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Building a farm for an uncertain future means questioning some of the assumptions that have driven farming for decades. For Simon Wallwork, a brutally dry season in 2010 was the catalyst for rethinking his farming system. After years of predominantly cropping, he began looking more closely at climate data and using it to inform changes to his agronomic practices and make the jump to bring livestock back into the business. Since then, Simon's thinking has expanded from adapting to climate change, to actively preparing for what's next. He's been involved in Ag Zero, a farmer-led initiative exploring agriculture's role in the energy transition, while on his own farm he's experimenting with carbon farming, electrification, and on-farm energy hosting. In this episode, Simon and Sarah explore what happens when farmers start thinking about technology, sustainability, and resilience not as separate issues, but as parts of the same system. For instance, rather than simply replacing a diesel tractor with an electric one, what happens when electrification and autonomy make the constraints of traditional farming systems start to disappear? They discuss:Why diversification can be an important part of building farm resilienceThe shift from thinking about climate adaptation to agriculture's role in mitigation and the energy transitionHow carbon farming can change the economics of marginal landHow autonomy changes the assumptions around machinery size and speedSimon's farm microgrid and the role of solar and batteriesThe potential role of electric tractors, trucks, and drone sprayersWhether electrification and autonomy could reduce the pressure for farms to continually scale upWhat energy independence could look like at the farm and regional level and why community ownership is criticalHow sustainability requirements could increasingly influence market access, finance, and insuranceUseful Links:Webinar: Nature Friendly Farming - Farmers for Climate ActionThe Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike CaseyAgricultural autonomy and new ways of working with SwarmFarm RoboticsHave we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew PryorComparing science communication theory with participatory practice: case study of the Australian Climate Champion ProgramGRDCCorrigin Farm Improvement GroupFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Building a farm for an uncertain future means questioning some of the assumptions that have driven farming for decades.For <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-wallwork-12b1ba22a/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Simon Wallwork,</a> a brutally dry season in 2010 was the catalyst for rethinking his farming system. After years of predominantly cropping, he began looking more closely at climate data and using it to inform changes to his agronomic practices and make the jump to bring livestock back into the business.Since then, Simon's thinking has expanded from adapting to climate change, to actively preparing for what's next. He's been involved in <a href="https://agzero.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ag Zero</a>, a farmer-led initiative exploring agriculture's role in the energy transition, while on his own farm he's experimenting with carbon farming, electrification, and on-farm energy hosting.In this episode, Simon and Sarah explore what happens when farmers start thinking about technology, sustainability, and resilience not as separate issues, but as parts of the same system. For instance, rather than simply replacing a diesel tractor with an electric one, what happens when electrification and autonomy make the constraints of traditional farming systems start to disappear?They discuss:<ul><li>Why diversification can be an important part of building farm resilience</li><li>The shift from thinking about climate adaptation to agriculture's role in mitigation and the energy transition</li><li>How carbon farming can change the economics of marginal land</li><li>How autonomy changes the assumptions around machinery size and speed</li><li>Simon's farm microgrid and the role of solar and batteries</li><li>The potential role of electric tractors, trucks, and drone sprayers</li><li>Whether electrification and autonomy could reduce the pressure for farms to continually scale up</li><li>What energy independence could look like at the farm and regional level and why community ownership is critical</li><li>How sustainability requirements could increasingly influence market access, finance, and insurance</li></ul>Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/blog/fca_event/webinar-nature-friendly-farming/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Webinar: Nature Friendly Farming - Farmers for Climate Action</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/the-business-case-for-electrifying-agriculture-with-cherry-grower-mike-casey?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/agricultural-autonomy-and-new-ways-of-working-f35599f60bbb" rel="noopener noreferrer">Agricultural autonomy and new ways of working with SwarmFarm Robotics</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/have-we-hit-the-tipping-point-for-autonomy-in-ag-with-shane-thomas-and-matthew-pryor?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor</a></li><li><a href="https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2102_2022_A04/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Comparing science communication theory with participatory practice: case study of the Australian Climate Champion Program</a></li><li><a href="https://grdc.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">GRDC</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cfig.org.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corrigin Farm Improvement Group</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.&nbsp;The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. &nbsp;

Can you build a farm for an uncertain future? With Simon Wallwork

As technology makes equipment more autonomous, precise, and serviceable from anywhere, will dealers become less important? Or will they become an even more valuable technology-enabled partner to farmers?Today, Shane Thomas (<a href="https://upstream.ag/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Upstream Ag Insights</a>) joins us to unpack the underlying economics of ag equipment dealers in our latest, Business Model Breakdowns episode of AgTech So What? As many know, dealerships are where most equipment gets sold, serviced, and supported.  But the business model is more complicated than simply selling tractors and parts. And, it’s changing. We examine dealers largely by breaking down <a href="https://www.titanmachinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Titan Machinery</a>, the world’s largest <a href="https://www.cnh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNH </a>dealership, with around $US 2.5 billion in revenue and more than 100 locations across the US, Eastern Europe, and Australia.The surprising part? The equipment itself isn't where most of their profits come from. While equipment sales make up the majority of dealership revenue, parts, service, and rentals generate the majority of gross margin.In this episode, Sarah, Matthew and Shane discuss:<ul><li>How the agricultural equipment dealership business model works.</li><li>Why parts and service are so important to dealer profitability.</li><li>Whether technology could fundamentally change the role of the dealer. </li><li>The role of equipment financing and inventory management.</li><li>Why used equipment can create significant balance-sheet risk.</li><li>How dealer consolidation changes the economics of the business.</li><li>Agtech companies attempting to go direct to farmers.</li><li>Whether trust and rapid service will remain powerful advantages for dealers.</li></ul>Got a business model in ag you’d like for us to break down in a future episode? Let us know!Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://ir.titanmachinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Investor Relations</a> - Titan Machinery</li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/will-chinas-cheaper-tractors-disrupt-ag-equipment-with-lachlan-monsbourgh" rel="noopener noreferrer">Will China’s cheaper tractors disrupt ag equipment? </a>- Tenacious Ventures</li><li><a href="https://www.cnh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNH</a></li><li>Dealers <a href="https://www.agcocorp.com/us/en/home/about-us/dealers.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">AGCO Corporation</a>, <a href="https://www.fendt.com/au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fendt Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.deere.com.au/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deere</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/blurring-the-line-between-farmer-and-ag-retailer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blurring the Line Between Farmer and Ag Retailer</a> - Tenacious Ventures</li><li>Tech: <a href="http://google.com/search?q=Swarm+Farm+Robotics&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU990AU990&oq=Swarm+Farm+Robotics&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCDU3MDFqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8" rel="noopener noreferrer">SwarmFarm Robotics</a>, <a href="https://ihsd.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harrington Seed Destructor</a>, <a href="https://carbonrobotics.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carbon Robotics</a></li><li><a href="https://7powers.com/synopsis/" rel="noopener noreferrer">7 Powers - The Foundations of Business Strategy, Hamilton Helmer</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.  
Companies: Titan Machinery • Topics: ag-retail, farm-machinery, business-model, agtech-ecosystem

As technology makes equipment more autonomous, precise, and serviceable from anywhere, will dealers become less important? Or will they become an even more valuable technology-enabled partner to farmers? Today, Shane Thomas (Upstream Ag Insights) joins us to unpack the underlying economics of ag equipment dealers in our latest, Business Model Breakdowns episode of AgTech So What? As many know, dealerships are where most equipment gets sold, serviced, and supported. But the business model is more complicated than simply selling tractors and parts. And, it’s changing. We examine dealers largely by breaking down Titan Machinery, the world’s largest CNH dealership, with around $US 2.5 billion in revenue and more than 100 locations across the US, Eastern Europe, and Australia. The surprising part? The equipment itself isn't where most of their profits come from. While equipment sales make up the majority of dealership revenue, parts, service, and rentals generate the majority of gross margin. In this episode, Sarah, Matthew and Shane discuss:How the agricultural equipment dealership business model works.Why parts and service are so important to dealer profitability.Whether technology could fundamentally change the role of the dealer. The role of equipment financing and inventory management.Why used equipment can create significant balance-sheet risk.How dealer consolidation changes the economics of the business.Agtech companies attempting to go direct to farmers.Whether trust and rapid service will remain powerful advantages for dealers.Got a business model in ag you’d like for us to break down in a future episode? Let us know! Useful Links:Investor Relations - Titan MachineryWill China’s cheaper tractors disrupt ag equipment? - Tenacious VenturesCNHDealers AGCO Corporation, Fendt Australia, John DeereBlurring the Line Between Farmer and Ag Retailer - Tenacious VenturesTech: SwarmFarm Robotics, Harrington Seed Destructor, Carbon Robotics7 Powers - The Foundations of Business Strategy, Hamilton HelmerFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. Companies: Titan Machinery • Topics: ag-retail, farm-machinery, business-model, agtech-ecosystem

As technology makes equipment more autonomous, precise, and serviceable from anywhere, will dealers become less important? Or will they become an even more valuable technology-enabled partner to farmers?Today, Shane Thomas (<a href="https://upstream.ag/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Upstream Ag Insights</a>) joins us to unpack the underlying economics of ag equipment dealers in our latest, Business Model Breakdowns episode of AgTech So What?&nbsp;As many know, dealerships are where most equipment gets sold, serviced, and supported.&nbsp; But the business model is more complicated than simply selling tractors and parts. And, it’s changing.&nbsp;We examine dealers largely by breaking down <a href="https://www.titanmachinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Titan Machinery</a>, the world’s largest <a href="https://www.cnh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNH </a>dealership, with around $US 2.5 billion in revenue and more than 100 locations across the US, Eastern Europe, and Australia.The surprising part? The equipment itself isn't where most of their profits come from. While equipment sales make up the majority of dealership revenue, parts, service, and rentals generate the majority of gross margin.In this episode, Sarah, Matthew and Shane discuss:<ul><li>How the agricultural equipment dealership business model works.</li><li>Why parts and service are so important to dealer profitability.</li><li>Whether technology could fundamentally change the role of the dealer.&nbsp;</li><li>The role of equipment financing and inventory management.</li><li>Why used equipment can create significant balance-sheet risk.</li><li>How dealer consolidation changes the economics of the business.</li><li>Agtech companies attempting to go direct to farmers.</li><li>Whether trust and rapid service will remain powerful advantages for dealers.</li></ul>Got a business model in ag you’d like for us to break down in a future episode? Let us know!Useful Links:<ul><li><a href="https://ir.titanmachinery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Investor Relations</a> - Titan Machinery</li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/will-chinas-cheaper-tractors-disrupt-ag-equipment-with-lachlan-monsbourgh" rel="noopener noreferrer">Will China’s cheaper tractors disrupt ag equipment? </a>- Tenacious Ventures</li><li><a href="https://www.cnh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNH</a></li><li>Dealers <a href="https://www.agcocorp.com/us/en/home/about-us/dealers.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">AGCO Corporation</a>, <a href="https://www.fendt.com/au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fendt Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.deere.com.au/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deere</a></li><li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/blurring-the-line-between-farmer-and-ag-retailer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blurring the Line Between Farmer and Ag Retailer</a> - Tenacious Ventures</li><li>Tech: <a href="http://google.com/search?q=Swarm+Farm+Robotics&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU990AU990&amp;oq=Swarm+Farm+Robotics&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCDU3MDFqMGo3qAIAsAIA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;source=chrome.ob&amp;ie=UTF-8" rel="noopener noreferrer">SwarmFarm Robotics</a>, <a href="https://ihsd.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harrington Seed Destructor</a>, <a href="https://carbonrobotics.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carbon Robotics</a></li><li><a href="https://7powers.com/synopsis/" rel="noopener noreferrer">7 Powers - The Foundations of Business Strategy, Hamilton Helmer</a></li></ul>For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.&nbsp;The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. &nbsp;
Companies: Titan Machinery • Topics: ag-retail, farm-machinery, business-model, agtech-ecosystem

Business model breakdowns: ag equipment dealer Titan Machinery, with Shane Thomas

What happens when you stop thinking about trees and agriculture as separate systems?
In this episode, sixth-generation Australian farmer and engineer Michael Taylor explains what decades of planting trees have taught his family about farming, resilience and innovation.
On their New England Tablelands farm, “Taylor’s Run,” the Taylors began planting trees for a practical reason: shelter. But over generations, those trees have become part of a much bigger story about agroforestry, biodiversity, natural capital, and the complex interactions at work across a farming system. 
  
Michael discusses why farming, despite his engineering background, is one of the most complex systems to manage. He shares the lessons that have emerged over decades of tree planting, as well as the mistakes. And the unexpected benefits those experiences have revealed.The conversation also explores what happens when we try to put numbers around nature. Michael discusses how natural capital accounting and data can help demonstrate, in tangible figures, some of the things farmers already see and observe in their landscapes.
Sarah and Michael also discuss:
<ul>
 <li>How trees can influence wind, moisture, ground cover and livestock protection</li>
 <li>Why some innovations only reveal their true value over decades</li>
 <li>How agroforestry can create value beyond timber</li>
 <li>What natural capital accounting can tell us about farm systems</li>
 <li>The limits of trying to simplify complex natural systems 
  </li>
</ul>
Useful Links:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/why-australias-best-known-economist-dr-ken-henry-says-we-need-to-be-valuing-natural-capital-on-a0e0f1ebe4c8?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Valuing natural capital on Australian farms — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/shifting-from-climate-measurement-to-risk-mitigation-with-cullen-gunn-from-kilter-rural?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shifting from climate measurement to risk mitigation — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/from-the-vault-mark-wootton-on-carbon-neutral-farming-at-jigsaw-farms?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw Farms — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://forico.com.au/natural-capital" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natural Capital - Forico</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.csiro.au/-/media/Environment/Natural-Capital-Accounting/Natural-Capital-Handbook/NaturalCapitalAccountingHandbook_WEB.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">CSIRO Natural Capital Handbook</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://agroforestry.net.au/main.asp?_=Bambra+Agroforestry+Farm&utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bambra Agroforestry Farm — practical Australian agroforestry resources</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://textileexchange.org/responsible-wool-standard/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) - Textile Exchange</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-09-08/farmer-of-the-year-2022-michael-taylor-merino-sustainable-farm/101394668" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australian Farmer of the Year Michael Taylor shows how farming diversity can lead to sustainability - ABC News</a></li>
</ul>
For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>. 
The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
<ul>
 <li>[00:2:00] Farming is a complex system</li>
 <li>[00:20:00] Innovation reveals its value over time</li>
 <li>[00:24:00] Data can make farmer knowledge visible</li>
</ul>
Topics: agroforestry, natural-capital, biodiversity, climate-risk, agtech-ecosystem

What happens when you stop thinking about trees and agriculture as separate systems? In this episode, sixth-generation Australian farmer and engineer Michael Taylor explains what decades of planting trees have taught his family about farming, resilience and innovation. On their New England Tablelands farm, “Taylor’s Run,” the Taylors began planting trees for a practical reason: shelter. But over generations, those trees have become part of a much bigger story about agroforestry, biodiversity, natural capital, and the complex interactions at work across a farming system. Michael discusses why farming, despite his engineering background, is one of the most complex systems to manage. He shares the lessons that have emerged over decades of tree planting, as well as the mistakes. And the unexpected benefits those experiences have revealed.The conversation also explores what happens when we try to put numbers around nature. Michael discusses how natural capital accounting and data can help demonstrate, in tangible figures, some of the things farmers already see and observe in their landscapes. Sarah and Michael also discuss: How trees can influence wind, moisture, ground cover and livestock protection Why some innovations only reveal their true value over decades How agroforestry can create value beyond timber What natural capital accounting can tell us about farm systems The limits of trying to simplify complex natural systems Useful Links: Valuing natural capital on Australian farms — Tenacious Ventures Shifting from climate measurement to risk mitigation — Tenacious Ventures Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw Farms — Tenacious Ventures Natural Capital - Forico CSIRO Natural Capital Handbook Bambra Agroforestry Farm — practical Australian agroforestry resources Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) - Textile Exchange Australian Farmer of the Year Michael Taylor shows how farming diversity can lead to sustainability - ABC News For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. [00:2:00] Farming is a complex system [00:20:00] Innovation reveals its value over time [00:24:00] Data can make farmer knowledge visible Topics: agroforestry, natural-capital, biodiversity, climate-risk, agtech-ecosystem

What happens when you stop thinking about trees and agriculture as separate systems?
In this episode, sixth-generation Australian farmer and engineer Michael Taylor explains what decades of planting trees have taught his family about farming, resilience and innovation.
On their New England Tablelands farm, “Taylor’s Run,” the Taylors began planting trees for a practical reason: shelter. But over generations, those trees have become part of a much bigger story about agroforestry, biodiversity, natural capital, and the complex interactions at work across a farming system. 
 &nbsp;
Michael discusses why farming, despite his engineering background, is one of the most complex systems to manage. He shares the lessons that have emerged over decades of tree planting, as well as the mistakes. And the unexpected benefits those experiences have revealed.The conversation also explores what happens when we try to put numbers around nature. Michael discusses how natural capital accounting and data can help demonstrate, in tangible figures, some of the things farmers already see and observe in their landscapes.
Sarah and Michael also discuss:
<ul>
 <li>How trees can influence wind, moisture, ground cover and livestock protection</li>
 <li>Why some innovations only reveal their true value over decades</li>
 <li>How agroforestry can create value beyond timber</li>
 <li>What natural capital accounting can tell us about farm systems</li>
 <li>The limits of trying to simplify complex natural systems 
 &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Useful Links:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/why-australias-best-known-economist-dr-ken-henry-says-we-need-to-be-valuing-natural-capital-on-a0e0f1ebe4c8?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Valuing natural capital on Australian farms — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/shifting-from-climate-measurement-to-risk-mitigation-with-cullen-gunn-from-kilter-rural?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shifting from climate measurement to risk mitigation — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/from-the-vault-mark-wootton-on-carbon-neutral-farming-at-jigsaw-farms?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw Farms — Tenacious Ventures</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://forico.com.au/natural-capital" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natural Capital - Forico</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.csiro.au/-/media/Environment/Natural-Capital-Accounting/Natural-Capital-Handbook/NaturalCapitalAccountingHandbook_WEB.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">CSIRO Natural Capital Handbook</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://agroforestry.net.au/main.asp?_=Bambra+Agroforestry+Farm&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bambra Agroforestry Farm — practical Australian agroforestry resources</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://textileexchange.org/responsible-wool-standard/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) - Textile Exchange</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-09-08/farmer-of-the-year-2022-michael-taylor-merino-sustainable-farm/101394668" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australian Farmer of the Year Michael Taylor shows how farming diversity can lead to sustainability - ABC News</a></li>
</ul>
For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.&nbsp;
The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
<ul>
 <li>[00:2:00] Farming is a complex system</li>
 <li>[00:20:00] Innovation reveals its value over time</li>
 <li>[00:24:00] Data can make farmer knowledge visible</li>
</ul>
Topics: agroforestry, natural-capital, biodiversity, climate-risk, agtech-ecosystem

Are we thinking about trees on farms all wrong? with Michael Taylor

What if crops could tell you when they were sick, before you could see the symptoms?
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdschaefer" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gary Schaefer</a> leads the commercial organization at <a href="https://innerplant.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">InnerPlant</a>, a company with a radically different approach to crop monitoring: engineering plants to communicate when they are under stress. 
InnerPlant’s technology enables plants to emit a fluorescent signal within hours of infection by specific diseases, potentially giving farmers access to real-time information about what is happening in their crops. Their first commercial product, CropVoice, uses strategically placed “sentinel” plants to provide localized information about fungal disease risk in soybeans.
But like all things in agtech,  technology is only part of the story. 
In discussion with Dr Madeline Mitchell, Gary shares what InnerPlant has learned about bringing a new category of agtech to market. If plants can tell us what’s happening before we can see it, what else might that change about agriculture?
<h3>Gary and Maddie discuss:</h3>
<ul>
 <li>What detecting disease before visible symptoms appear changes about crop protection</li>
 <li>The shift from maximizing yield to maximizing efficiency</li>
 <li>What InnerPlant learned by starting small and working closely with farmers.</li>
 <li>What it takes to move from scientific innovation to commercialization.</li>
 <li>Why strategic investment can be more valuable than capital alone.</li>
 <li>How farmer investors can help shape an agtech company's path to market.</li>
 <li>What the future could look like when every plant becomes a sensor.</li>
</ul>
Useful Links:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/2024/08/28/innerplant/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ag Startup InnerPlant Develops New Crop Technology Alerting Farmers of Plant Stress</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91384765/vcs-should-still-chase-agtech-cinderellas" rel="noopener noreferrer">VCs should still chase agtech Cinderellas - Fast Company</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/breaking-barriers-crop-innovation-series" rel="noopener noreferrer">Breaking Barriers in Crop Innovation (3 part series)</a></li>
</ul>
For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>. 
The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
Companies: InnerPlant • Topics: ag-data, ai, crops-horticulture, innovation

What if crops could tell you when they were sick, before you could see the symptoms? Gary Schaefer leads the commercial organization at InnerPlant, a company with a radically different approach to crop monitoring: engineering plants to communicate when they are under stress. InnerPlant’s technology enables plants to emit a fluorescent signal within hours of infection by specific diseases, potentially giving farmers access to real-time information about what is happening in their crops. Their first commercial product, CropVoice, uses strategically placed “sentinel” plants to provide localized information about fungal disease risk in soybeans. But like all things in agtech, technology is only part of the story. In discussion with Dr Madeline Mitchell, Gary shares what InnerPlant has learned about bringing a new category of agtech to market. If plants can tell us what’s happening before we can see it, what else might that change about agriculture? Gary and Maddie discuss: What detecting disease before visible symptoms appear changes about crop protection The shift from maximizing yield to maximizing efficiency What InnerPlant learned by starting small and working closely with farmers. What it takes to move from scientific innovation to commercialization. Why strategic investment can be more valuable than capital alone. How farmer investors can help shape an agtech company's path to market. What the future could look like when every plant becomes a sensor. Useful Links: Ag Startup InnerPlant Develops New Crop Technology Alerting Farmers of Plant Stress VCs should still chase agtech Cinderellas - Fast Company Breaking Barriers in Crop Innovation (3 part series) For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. Companies: InnerPlant • Topics: ag-data, ai, crops-horticulture, innovation

What if crops could tell you when they were sick, before you could see the symptoms?
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdschaefer" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gary Schaefer</a> leads the commercial organization at <a href="https://innerplant.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">InnerPlant</a>, a company with a radically different approach to crop monitoring: engineering plants to communicate when they are under stress.&nbsp;
InnerPlant’s technology enables plants to emit a fluorescent signal within hours of infection by specific diseases, potentially giving farmers access to real-time information about what is happening in their crops. Their first commercial product, CropVoice, uses strategically placed “sentinel” plants to provide localized information about fungal disease risk in soybeans.
But like all things in agtech,&nbsp; technology is only part of the story.&nbsp;
In discussion with Dr Madeline Mitchell, Gary shares what InnerPlant has learned about bringing a new category of agtech to market. If plants can tell us what’s happening before we can see it, what else might that change about agriculture?
Gary and Maddie discuss:
<ul>
 <li>What detecting disease before visible symptoms appear changes about crop protection</li>
 <li>The shift from maximizing yield to maximizing efficiency</li>
 <li>What InnerPlant learned by starting small and working closely with farmers.</li>
 <li>What it takes to move from scientific innovation to commercialization.</li>
 <li>Why strategic investment can be more valuable than capital alone.</li>
 <li>How farmer investors can help shape an agtech company's path to market.</li>
 <li>What the future could look like when every plant becomes a sensor.</li>
</ul>
Useful Links:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/2024/08/28/innerplant/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ag Startup InnerPlant Develops New Crop Technology Alerting Farmers of Plant Stress</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91384765/vcs-should-still-chase-agtech-cinderellas" rel="noopener noreferrer">VCs should still chase agtech Cinderellas - Fast Company</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://tenacious.ventures/insights/breaking-barriers-crop-innovation-series" rel="noopener noreferrer">Breaking Barriers in Crop Innovation (3 part series)</a></li>
</ul>
For more information and resources, visit our <a href="https://tenacious.ventures/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.&nbsp;
The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
Companies: InnerPlant • Topics: ag-data, ai, crops-horticulture, innovation

What if every plant was a sensor? with Gary Schaefer

Episode 2 - Richard Heath - Australian Farm Institute

What is all this agtech all about? We can play buzz word bingo but lets get to what it means to farmers and agriculture in Australia

Episode 1 - So we are going to start a podcast?

We tell the stories of innovators at the intersection of agriculture and technology to answer the question: what really is agtech and why should you care?

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