Co-founder and CEO of Bushel Jake Joraanstad shares what is table stakes in ag software. The past two years have seen accelerated onboarding for the team at Bushel, which now connects more than 2,600 grain locations to farmers. Joraanstad says when the business was launched, the expectations of farmers was much lower than what the team knew the technology could deliver. And that’s been a driver for the business ever since—as he has observed farmer willingness to adopt technology isn’t the obstacle, rather it’s the experience in using the tools.

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As ag retailers report a tightening labor pool, many are seeking new outlets to find team members. In 2023, The Equity brought on 20 seasonal H2-A workers. They’ve found such success that they are more than doubling that in 2024. Learn more from Human Resources Manager Robin Brown.

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Richard Gupton and Hunter Carpenter from the Ag Retailers Association share news from capitol hill including what the new speaker of the house means for the legislative pipeline. They also give their outlook for the Farm Bill extension. And the policy team shares what ag retailers should be watching for in regards to court cases and regulatory agency decisions effecting the products they sell.

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Lindsey Sankey, a marketing specialist at Co-Alliance, explains a new program, SEED (Securing Experience and Employee Development). This will bring on two high school graduates who were enrolled in FFA to come work for the co-op for two years with a multi-division rotation through all of the business units.

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Dave Swain draws on his experience from application equipment, ag retail and technology roles with his consulting business: Vision Technology Management. On the podcast, he shares where the gaps are in the industry and the way he advocates for ag retailers and farmers to get the most from their technology.

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Lisa Woodke is sustainability director at Star of the West. She shares how their business has helped connect food companies with farmers to advance conservation agriculture from the field to the grocery shelves. Woodke walks through a handful of real-world case studies, including their work as part of the USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities Grants.

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Kristen Ireland and Erin Mies started People Spark 5 years ago with a consulting focus to boost a company’s bottom line by increasing profits and margin, increasing retention and engagement, and creating a culture of success. They aim to provide business leaders with simple, practical solutions.

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What can organizations do to elevate their entire team’s performance? Dave Mitchell, Founder of The Leadership Difference, says the answer lies in your company’s culture. He’ll be sharing insights during the session “The Foundation of Peak Performance Culture” at the Ag Retailers Association Conference and Expo, which takes place Nov. 28 to 30 in Orlando, Fla.

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Hunter Carpenter from the Ag Retailers Association shares a bit more about the timing of the pending Farm Bill deadline and how in 2018 even getting the bill done 4 months late is now considered “on time.”

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Richard Gupton with the Agricultural Retailers Associations rejoins the podcast to give an update from DC. With the failure to reauthorize CFATS and EPA’s announcements around pesticide regulations, Gupton shares what retailers need to know about how these actions effect their business.

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