429. Keystone Cooperative’s Drew Garretson on navigating risk, finding the right innovation for farmers + agtech’s greatest opportunities for impact

From agtech adoption to agronomy, inputs, animal health services and beyond, agricultural cooperatives exist under one common objective: to enable farmer success. For 100 years, Keystone Cooperative has delivered that effort to communities across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois, employing more than 1,700 workers and differentiating themselves through service and relationships.  Vice President of Member Engagement and Public Affairs Drew Garretson joins this week to talk about the Keystone Cooperative journey, including their expanded footprint post-merger and the approach they take to ensure they are delivering best-in-class innovation and services to their farmer members. Highlights include: The work Drew leads at Keystone Cooperative – including his many titles over the years with the organization – and how they serve American farmers Conversations with members as they head into the spring planting season How Keystone helps farmers navigate decisions and navigating risk while operating under tight margins Emerging technologies that Drew believes are having the greatest impact on U.S. farming operations over the next five years Criteria Keystone follows to determine whether a potential technology or service is a good fit for their members How Drew and the team have approached partnerships and collaborations over the years – and what makes quality partnerships work for Keystone The generational transition for agriculture and how Keystone approaches the decision-making mindset on farms where thoughts on innovation and sustainability may differ How the current economic and regulatory environment shapes the cooperative landscape and the challenges and opportunities those headwinds present Areas of agriculture Drew believes we’ve just begun to scratch the surface on, our biggest opportunities that lie ahead for farmers to get more efficient and gain net farm income over the next five years What’s ahead for the Keystone Cooperative team that has Drew most excited