Richard Hoff is the Director of Viticulture of Mercer Ranches. Mercer Ranches is a grape farm that produces high-quality wine through strict quality control and precise technology. Richard is considered an expert in wine tasting, wine manufacturing, and general viticulture. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Viticulture from Washington State University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Richard joins me today to discuss in great detail how the production of wine works - from the grape to the bottle. He describes the vineyards Mercer owns, the grapes they produce, their different yields, and their farming practices. He explains some of the details involved in processing such as pruning and de-leafing, as well as the technologies they use. Richard also shares some of the problems he looks forward to being solved by technology in the future.

“There's just not much of an argument anymore whether mechanization is as good as hands.” - Richard Hoff

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Introducing the vineyards, the varieties of grapes they produce, and their wine production.
• The time it takes to go from planting grapes to extracting wine.
• The longevity of a vineyard before it has to be replaced.
• The value of specific varieties of grapes per ton.
• Various labor challenges they faced that mechanization and automation solved.
• Implementing new technology and machinery in the vineyards.
• The methods they apply when creating new vineyards.
• Determining the best combination that marries quantity with quality.
• The level of attention required to grow the best grapes possible.
• The effect of mechanization on data collection.
• Problems he hopes technology will solve in the future.

Connect with Richard Hoff:

• Mercer Wine
• LinkedIn

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. 

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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

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Dr. Fiona Edwards Murphy is the CEO and Co-Founder of ApisProtect. ApisProtect is a company that innovates the agricultural industry with its advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Specifically, they help beekeepers both small and large gather the necessary data from their bee colonies through sensors. They aim to help preserve bees and perhaps even reverse the rising colony losses around the world.

Fiona joins me today to share her passion for saving bees and how she came up with the idea of using sensor technology. She describes the current bee problem and its possible implications in and outside the agricultural sector. She explains how their sensor technology works, how it helps beekeepers, and its potential usage outside of the pollination industry. Fiona also describes their business model and how they found the market that supported their company.

“We collect the sensor data and use machine learning to convert the raw data into useful information for the beekeeper.” - Dr. Fiona Edwards Murphy

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• The current situation with the honeybee problem.
• The factors affecting honeybee deaths across the world.
• Small and large scale beekeepers and how their businesses operate.
• Her academic background and how she came to be involved in saving bees.
• Using sensors inside beehives and the types of sensors they use.
• Problems that can be detected and solved by sensors.
• The projects their company has started and their current business plans.
• How beekeepers are benefiting from their programs.
• The challenges they have encountered in their business.
• Fixing and maintaining the sensors they provide to their clients.
• Their plans for World Bee Day and their partnerships.

Connect with Dr. Fiona Edwards Murphy:

• ApisProtect
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

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

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Glen and Jason Newcomer are the fifth- and sixth-generation owners and operators of Newcomer Farms.  Glen has extensive experience in farm management, agronomy support, and agricultural risk management. Jason returned to the farm after college to help the family operate and innovate the farm to match current trends.

Glen and Jason join me to share what it’s like to manage a farm that’s survived many troubling times. They discuss the difference between how the farm was managed decades ago and how it is managed today. Jason explains the reason why he returned to farming and Glen describes some of the tasks Jason helped relieve him from. They also share how they select their board of advisors and their perspective on farm operations.

“We always have to find ways to become more efficient and more profitable.” - Glen Newcomer

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Glen and Jason Newcomer's agricultural background and the history of their farm.
• Why Jason is passionate about managing their farm.
• The difference between how they operated generations ago and today.
• Why they believe they're in a pinched economy right now.
• The issues they encountered in the '80s versus the issues today.
• Why Jason returned to farm operations.
• Their approach to succession of their farm operations.
• The new tools they utilize in their day-to-day farm operations.
• Expectations from the newer generation of farmers.

Connect with Glen and Jason Newcomer:

• Newcomer Farms
• Twitter

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.

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 
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AgGrad on Instagram 

Janice Person is the Online Engagement Director at Bayer Crop Science. In this role, she is responsible for social media and internet outreach towards influencers, bloggers, and the general public throughout the agriculture space. She has connected with thousands of food, lifestyle, and agricultural bloggers and those numbers are still growing. She also blogs on her personal website, JP Loves Cotton.

Janice joins me today to share her responsibilities as Online Engagement Director and some of her notable accomplishments in this role. She describes how she found her passion for the ag industry, especially cotton. She discusses some of the more common mistakes people make on social media and what she’s learned from her experience. Janice also explains what people can look forward to SXSW and why people interested in agriculture should attend.

“Sometimes it's a lot easier to start a conversation when people know they have some common ground with you.” - Janice Person

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Creating a position title and walking into a position no one's ever had.
• Why she started the blog and how it lead to her next career move.
• Knowing whether or not you're doing a great job in online engagement.
• The mistakes most people make on social media.
• How she uses Quora to spread her influence and engage more people.
• Why the South by Southwest conference is one of the best.
• The benefits of being part of another organization.

Resources Mentioned:

• SXSW
• Quora

Connect with Janice Person:

• JP Loves Cotton
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

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 

Aidan Connolly is the Chief Executive Officer at Cainthus, a software company dedicated to helping farmers collect the necessary and critical information they need to manage their farms better. Cainthus’ current project involves the use of sensors that interpret visual information from various farm animals. He is also the author of 2-1-4-3, a book on growing your business. Before becoming Cainthus’ CIO, Aidan previously held the same position at Alltech, an agtech company which he served for over 28 years.

Aidan joins me today to share his current business venture and how this new company can help the farming industry as a whole. He discusses their current sensor project, its applications, and how it can improve farm efficiency. He also explains the overall theme of his book as well as what the title 2-1-4-3 means.

“Make it as honest and uncomfortable as you can be in terms of evaluating what your business really is today.” - Aidan Connolly

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Why Aidan left his previous company and the reason he founded Cainthus.
• His current projects and how they make use of facial recognition tech on cows.
• Using sensors in farms and the challenges in managing multiple species.
• Solving "cow bullying" on dairy farms.
• How sensors can help find solutions to problems in farming cattle.
• Why he chose to focus on farm sensors instead of other technologies.
• What he wants people to learn from reading his book.
• The 2-1-4-3 approach explained and what to expect from his book.
• Is investing in agtech a little too overhyped?

Resources Mentioned:

• Future of Agriculture 067: Disruptive Agricultural Technologies with Aidan Connolly, CIO of Alltech

Connect with Aidan Connolly:

• Cainthus
• 2-1-4-3 Plan
• LinkedIn

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