Dick Wittman is the Founder of Wittman Consulting, a company dedicated to training consultants who can help family farm businesses in transitional processes and agricultural finance. Dick is a former manager and the current board chair for a 20,000-acre family farm located in Idaho. He has an extensive farming and ranching background in crops, cattle, and timber. He holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho and a Master’s degree from the University of Utah. Currently, he focuses on public speaking and running Train-the-Trainer workshops, expanding the international resource base of agricultural consultants for family-owned businesses.

Dick joins me today to share why it’s important for family farm owners to adopt the “Farm CEO” mindset. He explains why family farm managers need to operate more like executives and how they can change their mindset to function at an executive level. He also shares the skills that are required today to better manage family farm businesses and the importance of being able to adapt your organization to market changes in order to to ensure future success.

“Most farmers get into farming to grow things, but if they are going to succeed, then they need to be skilled in finance, marketing, and human relations.” - Dick Wittman

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• How Dave got into the consulting side of the agricultural business.
• The common areas for improvement and management disciplines seen in the typical family farm.
• The background of The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP).
• The downturn in the economic market and recognizing that businesses need to change and be optimized.
• The quick wins that can get results and creating a to-do list of the low-hanging fruit.
• Using the resources out there and adapting them to your operation.
• The Train-the-Trainer seminars for consulting professionals.
• The agricultural outlook and the opportunities to re-engineer your business.
• How to use data management to make strategic changes and improve your bottom line.
• Staying ahead through diversification and analysis of value-added resources.

Key Takeaways:

• Strive to achieve excellence in all areas of your business.
• Adapt existing resources for your operation.
• Use data to make strategic business realignments.

Resources Mentioned:

• Executive Program for Agricultural Producers
• Granular

Connect with Dick Wittman:

• Wittman Consulting
• Building Effective Farm Management Systems
• Train-the-Trainer Seminar
• Email: dwittman@lewiston.com

This episode is sponsored by: Granular - Manage Your Farm with Confidence

Granular is an agriculture software company dedicated to building stronger, more profitable farms. Since 2014, Granular has become a leader in developing web and mobile apps grounded in advanced data science technology to help farmers make data-driven, real-time business and agriculture decisions with greater confidence.

To learn more about how Granular’s digital solutions can help you better manage your farm, visit Granular.ag.

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 

Jeff and Garrett Sims are the owners of Sims Farms, a family-owned and operated ag business in the Centralia, Missouri area. The farm was established in 1967, and they’re the 5th generation of farmers who manage and oversee its day-to-day operations. Some of the services they offer include stewardship, soybeans production, and commercial corn production.

Jeff and Garrett join me today to describe how Granular has enabled them to manage their business at a more efficient rate. They share how they run the farm, the people they employ, and the crops they grow. They discuss how they adapted to new technologies and how Granular has served as one of their best investments. They also explain the importance of knowing which “shiny object” to focus on and how to tell if a new tool is worth your time.

“It's great to sell a product, but you have to have people and systems in place to make it work.” - Jeff Sims

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Jeff and Garrett Sims' farming operations and how they manage their farm.
• Their transition from traditional to automated farm management.
• How Granular helped them establish an efficient farm system.
• Sorting through the many new tools and technologies available to them.
• What matters most when considering using new technology.
• The number of people they employ and their responsibilities around the farm.
• Tasks they spend more time on now than they did when they were starting out.
• What they need to put more emphasis on to continue growing.
• What they're excited about in the future of agriculture.

Key Takeaways:

• Some of the technologies out there today give us a good indication of what's coming.
• All technologies need to be looked at and applied to your business in some way or form.
• Adapting to new technology isn't as expensive as it was decades ago.
• As farms become bigger and more complex, you need to hire outside help.

Resources Mentioned:

• Autosteer

Connect with Jeff and Garrett Sims:

• SIMS Farms
• Email: sims.farms@yahoo.com

This episode is sponsored by: Granular - Manage Your Farm with Confidence

Granular is an agriculture software company dedicated to building stronger, more profitable farms. Since 2014, Granular has become a leader in developing web and mobile apps grounded in advanced data science technology to help farmers make data-driven, real-time business and agriculture decisions with greater confidence.

To learn more about how Granular’s digital solutions can help you better manage your farm, visit Granular.ag.

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 

Sid Gorham is the President & CEO of Granular, a software and analytics platform that aims to improve farming efficiency and help farmers make better, well-informed business decisions. As the leader of Granular, his responsibilities include setting growth strategies and maintaining a rich and diverse entrepreneurial culture as they scale the company. His extensive experience in leading companies in the tech and mobile industries, as well as seeing the needs of the ag industry, has served as one of his primary drivers in starting the company.

Sid joins me today to share how Granular enables farmers to operate and manage their farms better. He shares his passion for tech, his interests in applying tech in farms, and how he got inspired to start Granular. He describes the farming problems their company solves, explains how their business works, and how they integrate new farmers into using their platform. He also discusses some of the current innovations in ag as well as shares his thoughts on the future of farming and agriculture.

“In the next 3-5 years, we're going to see a dramatic change in how farmers market their crops and use risk management tools.” - Sid Gorham

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Sid Gorham's tech background and what he finds unique in agriculture.
• What Granular is and his inspiration in founding this type of company.
• Where agriculture is right now regarding innovative history.
• The benefits of using Granular for your ag business.
• The hardships and successes he experienced in establishing Granular.
• What AcreValue is and how it helps business-minded farmers.
• Current problems in the industry that still needs solving.
• Tips on improving business and employee productivity.

Key Takeaways:

• The family-owned business structure is unique and dominant in the agriculture industry.
• It's rare to run across a farmer who isn't trying anything related to data technology.

Connect with Sid Gorham:

• Granular
• LinkedIn

This episode is sponsored by: Granular - Manage Your Farm with Confidence

Granular is an agriculture software company dedicated to building stronger, more profitable farms. Since 2014, Granular has become a leader in developing web and mobile apps grounded in advanced data science technology to help farmers make data-driven, real-time business and agriculture decisions with greater confidence.

To learn more about how Granular’s digital solutions can help you better manage your farm, visit Granular.ag.

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 

Justin Dahlgren and Eric Thalken are farm managers in Nebraska. They have adapted to using Granular, one of the world’s leading farm management software tools. Granular provides farmers with all the necessary tools that analyze operational, agronomic, and financial information for their farms. Justin’s farm primarily grows corn and soybeans tied to their 8,000-head feedlot. On the other hand, Eric’s 2,300-acre farm has transitioned to organic farming recently and aims to be 100% organic this year.

Justin and Eric join me today to share their passion for agriculture and how they utilized current technologies to optimize farm management. They discuss what their farms are all about, the crops they produce, and their specific roles. They describe some of the farming practices that improved the introduction of innovative software. They also explain how farm owners should interpret data in a way that benefits their farming operations and share what they believe the future of agriculture will be like in 25 years.

“Regenerative agriculture will become a commodity because that will be the only way to produce crops that people want to consume.” - Justin Dahlgren

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Justin's and Eric's farm backgrounds and their current agricultural ventures.
• Why Justin transitioned to organic farming and how it started.
• How they determine if they can scale a process.
• What brought Justin from Sales Agronomy to farming again?
• Focusing on new prospects and how to choose among many new ‘shiny objects’.
• Utilizing data gathered from different types of technologies in their farms.
• Technologies that significantly impacted their farming practices.
• The people they plan to hire to make data analysis easier.
• What they believe the agriculture setting will look like in the next few decades

Key Takeaways:

• Technology is helping farmers become more regenerative.
• It's not humanly possible to get through all the data and get through everything that is actionable.
• Farmers have been collecting data for decades, but many farmers have yet to fully utilize them to make the right decisions.

Resources Mentioned:

• Future of Agriculture 107: Organic Agriculture at Scale with John McKeon of Tanimura and Antle
• Future of Agriculture 110: How Carbon Trading Could Benefit Farmers with Aldyen Donelly of Nori
• Granular

Connect with Justin Dahlgren:

• Facebook
• Email: jdahlgren93@hotmail.com

Connect with Eric Thalken:

• Burkey Farms LinkedIn
• LinkedIn

This episode is sponsored by: Granular - Manage Your Farm with Confidence

Granular is an agriculture software company dedicated to building stronger, more profitable farms. Since 2014, Granular has become a leader in developing web and mobile apps grounded in advanced data science technology to help farmers make data-driven, real-time business and agriculture decisions with greater confidence.

To learn more about how Granular’s digital solutions can help you better manage your farm, visit Granular.ag.

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 

Tim Moffett is known as the Ag Comedian, as he blends comedy and farming into a finely tuned and unique craft. He likes to combine everyday life on the farm and stand-up comedy to show everyone there is always something to smile and laugh about - even in agriculture. Tim frequently performs at agriculture conventions, fairs, business meetings, corporate events, and even at family reunions.

Tim joins me today to discuss comedy in agriculture, a side to the industry most think doesn’t exist. He shares his family background and how he discovered his passion for comedy. He discusses some of his favorite comedic materials and how he engages with his core audience. He also shares his opinions on the idea of organic farming and vaccinations.

“Not just in agriculture, but life can get you down. Sometimes you just need a good laugh.” - Tim Moffett

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Tim's farm background and how he combines comedy and farming.
• How he manages their farming business and their Happy Cheese concept.
• What kept him motivated to run his farm despite the stress of being a comedian.
• How he appeals to his core ag audience.
• The material he uses for his comedy that relates to agriculture.
• Why he's not a fan of vaccinations for his cows.

Key Takeaways:

• You can only grow as a person by having a mentor that will tell you when you're awful.

Resources Mentioned:

• Progressive Dairy

Connect with Tim Moffett:

• Ag Comedian
• Farm Raised on Spotify

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