🚜 From the Family Farm to AI: Sarah Martello and the Future of American Agriculture

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Off Road with Frank Ferraro, Frank sits down with Sarah Martello, CEO and Co-Founder of AgWise, for a conversation about the rapidly changing future of American agriculture — and how technology can help farmers become more efficient, profitable and sustainable.Sarah's connection to agriculture runs deep. She grew up in a multigenerational farming family, but watched firsthand as the economics of farming became increasingly difficult. Encouraged by her father to pursue an education outside agriculture, Sarah went on to become an attorney, earn an advanced degree in tax law, build and sell a tax law firm, and eventually enter the technology industry.Years later, her career has come full circle.Sarah explains how an initial effort to create greater food traceability ultimately led to the development of agricultural technology capable of addressing challenges throughout the farming ecosystem.Frank and Sarah discuss AgWise and Foliar Scripts, including how plant tissue testing, data and precision nutrient recommendations can help farmers reduce unnecessary fertilizer applications, lower costs and improve decision-making.They also explore how artificial intelligence can help farmers evaluate crop selection, environmental conditions and agricultural economics — and why AI becomes particularly valuable in an industry where weather, commodity prices, tariffs and other variables can change quickly.The conversation moves into blockchain technology and agricultural traceability, where Sarah explains how an immutable ledger can create greater transparency across the food supply chain and potentially allow consumers to verify where food originated, how it was raised and what was applied during production.Sarah also discusses an often-overlooked financial opportunity for farmers: tax incentives and deductions, including circumstances where ordinary farming practices may potentially qualify for R&D-related tax benefits.Frank and Sarah also discuss:Why farming has become increasingly difficult for independent family farmsSarah's journey from a Kansas farm to law, tax and technologyHow AgWise evolved from food traceability into precision agricultureUsing AI to improve agricultural planning and decision-makingPrecision nutrient recommendations and reducing unnecessary fertilizer costsBlockchain's role in food traceability and authenticityThe challenge of getting agricultural data out of notebooks, equipment and disconnected systemsDesigning technology that farmers can actually useWhy AgWise has largely resisted traditional outside equity financingThe massive generational transfer of American farmlandThe risk of family farms disappearing into corporate agriculture or commercial developmentWhy Sarah believes technology can help preserve the future of American farmingIt's a conversation about much more than agricultural software. It's about technology meeting one of America's oldest industries — and whether innovation can help keep the family farm economically viable for the next generation.Guest: Sarah Martello, CEO & Co-Founder, AgWiseWebsite: AgWise.io Support the show Thanks for listening to Off-Road with Frank Ferraro. Subscribe for new conversations on capital markets, innovation, and the future of business.