Alexander Reichert is the Co-Founder & CEO of AgVend, an eCommerce platform that partners with various ag retailers to adapt to the evolving needs of American farmers. Their platform allows farmers to connect with retailers and purchase their products and/or services anywhere and at any time. Alex practices the Build-Measure-Learn philosophy in his life and believes customer satisfaction isn’t an option, but a critical part of success in any industry.

Alexander joins me today to describe AgVend, what inspired him to start the company, how it works, and how it seeks to help farmers. He explains the need to have an online presence in the ag industry and why farmers today are more open to online retail stores. He discusses the various ways AgVend can help both farmers and ag retailers in as transparent a manner as possible. He also shares the values and culture he promotes in his company.

“The ones who start and get on track early are the ones who will be most successful." - Alexander Reichert

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What AgVend is and what it is designed to do.
• The story that inspired him to start AgVend.
• The reason behind the surge of online eCommerce platforms in the ag space.
• How they develop their business strategies and project ideas.
• How they guarantee a healthy and profitable platform.
• Fixing constantly fluctuating quotations on online items.
• Why customers would be inclined to use their platform.
• The company values he instills in AgVend.

Manager Minute

• Retrofitting a culture to a company is nearly impossible.

Key Takeaways:

• Growers appreciate if they can work with retailers within their community.
• Technological solutions that combine with the human element are the ones that stick.
• Farmers today are more comfortable in obtaining information and buying ag products online.

Connect with Alexander Reichert:

• AgVend
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Email: contact@agvend.com
• Direct Email: alexander@agvend.com

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

• Agribusiness
• Production Agriculture
• Research & Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

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 

Todd Janzen is an attorney whose practice covers the agricultural industry with the intent to represent farmers and their respective businesses. He is the President of Janzen Agricultural Law LLC, a law firm that specializes in the legal needs of an innovative agricultural industry. He also serves as the Administrator for Ag Data Transparent, a non-profit organization that aims to bring transparency, trust, and simplicity to ag tech contracts.

Todd joins me today to help bring awareness to the idea of data transparency in the agricultural industry. He shares his career journey, what inspired him to become an ag industry lawyer, and explains how data transparency can enable farmers to improve their systems and how they manage their farms. He also explains how companies can get involved, the processes they need to partake, and how he thinks this project can impact the industry as a whole. 

“Farmers have a much easier time letting a complete stranger know what they're doing on their farm than they would be letting their own neighbor know." -Todd Janzen

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Where Todd got his love for agriculture.
• The risks that come with Ag Data and how to manage them.
• Technologies that could be collecting data without us knowing.
• The type of data farmers should be wary of sharing.
• The processes involved to help farmers become certified.
• Companies that will not find this type of service useful.
• The big questions we still need to answer about Ag Data.

Key Takeaways:

• With social media, people are much more tolerable of sharing private data.
• We have to treat Ag Data with respect and diligence.

Connect with Todd Janzen:

• Janzen Ag Law
• Ag Data Transparent

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

• Agribusiness
• Production Agriculture
• Research & Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

 Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date, and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

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 

Dr. Abbey Wick is an Extension Soil Health Specialist for North Dakota State University. In her position, she is responsible for producing soil health videos with topics ranging from soil erosion to cover crops. She is trained in soil organic matter dynamics, soil structural development, and microbial ecology. She believes all systems need a holistic approach encompassing every interaction within them. She implements this belief by working with landowners, industry, and government agencies throughout North Dakota.

Abbey joins me today to discuss the importance of soil health in the agricultural industry. She shares the story of how she got into the industry despite not having a rural background and why she decided to work on soil health. She describes what her normal, day-to-day routine is like especially when interacting with farmers. She also explains some of the projects she’s working on and how they can help the ag industry as well as the environment.

“Most farmers are not farming for themselves. They’re farming for the next generation." -Dr. Abbey Wick

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• How she got into the agricultural industry despite not growing up on a farm.
• Her role as an extension specialist and what she does on a daily basis.
• What the farmers she works with think about soil health and their primary concerns.
• The goals farmers set their priorities to.
• The first step in maintaining soil health.
• Can they optimize one crop to become the best cover crop?
• Nitrogen and when farmers can utilize the type from the soil and not from fertilizers.
• The tests involved in evaluating soil health.
• What Abbey loves so much about soil.

Key Takeaways:

• Data always lead us to directions that provide good guidance to within systems we can understand
• No farmer wants to see soil just slough away.
• Apply soil health practices in small sections of land first before covering the whole farm.
• Planting nitrogen-fixing cover crops won't replace nitrogen fertilizers.

Resources Mentioned

• Stories From The Soil

Connect with Dr. Abbey Wick:

• North Dakota State University
• Twitter

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

• Agribusiness
• Production Agriculture
• Research & Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

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 

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 

The Iowa AgriTech Accelerator is a mentor-led program that allows startups to collaborate with agriculture industry leaders and present their solutions to refine product market fit, perform customer discovery within the industry, and build strategic partnerships.

Iowa AgriTech Accelerator Executive Director Megan Vollstedt joins the show to share more about their program. One of their success stories is Rabbit Tractors, that you may remember from Future of Agriculture 118. 

Learn more at https://agiowa.com

Check out the "Future of Agriculture" Blog: www.FutureOfAg.com

Like the "Future of Agriculture" Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/futureofag/

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