Vision Tech Perspectives

Agriculture does a great job of producing safe, affordable food. But with the vast majority of the consumers being so far removed from food production, how does the consumer know the quality and safety of their food? And, with the "distance" between the producer and the consumer, how does the producer know what the consumer expects?We don't just ask Brad his thoughts on ag and food, but we offer him the opportunity to ask questions that he has about ag and food.In this episode, we flip the script! As we are talking with Brad Pitcher, PhD, Industrial Organizational Psychologist, about his thoughts on agriculture and food, it's his turn to ask us questions on topics that are important to him! Join us for Part #3 of this very enlightening conversation.#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Agriculture does a great job of producing safe, affordable food. But with the vast majority of the consumers being so far removed from food production, how does the consumer know the quality and safety of their food? And, with the "distance" between the producer and the consumer, how does the producer know what the consumer expects?In this episode, we are talking with Brad Pitcher, PhD, Industrial Organizational Psychologist, about his thoughts on agriculture and food. We don't just ask Brad his thoughts on ag and food, but we offer him the opportunity to ask questions that he has about ag and food.Join us for Part #2 of this very enlightening conversation.#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Agriculture does a great job of producing safe, affordable food. But with the vast majority of the consumers being so far removed from food production, how does the consumer know the quality and safety of their food? And, with the "distance" between the producer and the consumer, how does the producer know what the consumer expects?In this episode, we are talking with Brad Pitcher, PhD, Industrial Organizational Psychologist, about his thoughts on agriculture and food. We don't just ask Brad his thoughts on ag and food, but we offer him the opportunity to ask questions that he has about ag and food.Join us in this very enlightening conversation.#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Join us for Part #3 of our conversation with Paul Schrimpf, AgGateway and Journalist, as we continue our conversation about a more practical approach and use of AI and Paul's experiences in his, as well as others he's talked with, in using AI.Join us for the next exciting episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

As we continue our conversation with Paul Schrimpf, we move from a more historical perspective of ag technology to how Paul started working with AI, his experiences as well as others that he's talked with concerning AI.Join us for the next exciting episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

We are excited about this episode as we talk with Paul Schrimpf, an industry stalwart in ag technology media.Paul and I were talking about how he had been dipping his toe in using AI and how others in business were being told that they had to use AI.We decided that the actual use of AI in both scenarios would be a great topic to discuss for our listeners.In this first episode, we talk about the "early years" of ag technology and how Paul has learned and seen the development of ag technologies and his objective to make ag technology be just agriculture.Join us for Part #1 of the conversation!#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.com

We continue our Prequel Series with Part #2 of the interview of Dave Swain, Founder of Vision Technology Management, LLC.As we discussed with Doug, Dave talks of his heritage and his extensive experience in the ag technology sector as well as telling the story of how Vision Tech Perspectives really got started in the first place.Join us for the conversation in the latest episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.comhttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

We continue our Prequel Series with an interview of Dave Swain, Founder of Vision Technology Management, LLC.As we discussed with Doug, Dave talks of his heritage and his extensive experience in the ag technology sector as well as telling the story of how Vision Tech Perspectives really got started in the first place.Join us for the conversation in the latest episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.comhttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

The "force" is still with us to keep channeling our inner Star Wars and running a series of interviews of our co-hosts and producer.We continue our conversation with Doug Johnson, farmer, retired ag finance businessman and current speaker.Doug discusses his heritage and continues on the speaking circuit talking with not only ag groups, but also with non-agricultural groups to share the industry story.Join us for the latest episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.comhttps://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

We're channeling our inner Star Wars and running a series of interviews of our co-hosts and producer.We're in our third season of production for our podcast and thought we would give our backgrounds, to give you a better context on our perspectives concerning today's topics in the ag industry.We're starting with Doug Johnson, farmer, retired ag finance businessman and current speaker.Join us for the latest episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.com

AI and Its Applications in Ag with Francisco Martin-Rayo, CEO of Helios.We wrap up our conversation with Francisco as we talk about AI and how he has been using and developing AI tools to function in the Ag industry.Join us for Part #3 of this conversation in this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.com

AI and Its Applications in Ag with Francisco Martin-Rayo, CEO of Helios.We continue our conversation with Francisco as we talk about AI and how he has been using and developing AI tools to function in the Ag industry.Join us for Part #2 of this conversation in this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.com

AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Its Applications in Ag, Part #1We are honored and grateful to talk with Francisco Martin-Rayo, CEO of Helios, on our conversation about AI and its applications in ag.Francisco helps to walk us through the basics of AI. What it is and where it gets it data and information.Join us for this very interesting conversation with Francisco in the latest episode of Vision Tech Perspectives.#VisionTechPerspectiveswww.VisionTechMgmt.com

We continue our customer loyalty conversation. We continue our discussion on keeping customers loyal over generations with Jim Howe, CEO of Star of the West Milling.We talk with Jim, who has spent his whole career with Star of the West, about his loyalty to the company and how they foster the loyalty of their customers.Join us for the conversation.https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

We return to the customer loyalty conversation. With this episode we talk with Jim Howe, CEO of Star of the West Milling.We talk with Jim, who has spent his whole career with Star of the West, about his loyalty to the company and how they foster the loyalty of their customers.Join us for the conversation.www.VisionTechMgmt.com

In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we conclude our conversation with Michelle Tressel, CEO of MyAg Data, about modernizing the USDA and FSA.We talk with Michelle about the changes that she's seeing in the USDA and FSA toward digitizing reporting and streamlining processes.Join us for part #3 and final segment of the conversation.https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/#VisionTechPerspectives

In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we continue our conversation with Michelle Tressel, CEO of MyAg Data, about modernizing the USDA and FSA.We talk with Michelle about the changes that she's seeing in the USDA and FSA toward digitizing reporting and streamlining processes.Join us for part #2 of the conversation.https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/#VisionTechPerspectives

In today's world, there are so many things that are changing and the technology that we are using is changing so quickly as well.In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we talk with Michelle Tressel, CEO of MyAg Data, about modernizing the USDA and FSA.As farmers are fully aware, when you go to report crop acres, you will typically still be working with paper maps and highlighter.We will talk with Michelle about the changes that she's seeing in the USDA and FSA toward digitizing reporting and streamlining processes.Join us for part #1 of the conversation.https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/#VisionTechPerspectives

Regenerative AgWe finish up our conversation about Regenerative Ag with Brad Hobrock, Farmer and Co-Founder of AgriBio Systems.What does "regenerative ag" mean?Who's definition/version should we use?We also continue the discussion concerning biologicals and other related topics.

We continue our conversation with Brad Hobrock, Farmer and Co-Founder of AgriBio Systems, about regenerative ag. What does "regenerative ag" mean?Who's definition/version should we use?We also continue the discussion concerning biologicals and other related topics.

Regenerative AgWhat does "regenerative ag" mean?Who's definition/version should we use?In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we talk with Brad Hobrock, farmer and co-owner of AgriBio Systems, to discuss regenerative ag, biologicals and other related topics.#VisionTechPerspectiveshttps://visiontechmgmt.com

We've been doing this podcast for over a year, now. We continue looking back at 2024 and what we learned.We also continue to look to the future and what 2025 might hold in store for us and the ag industry.We hope you enjoy the looking back and looking forward conversation.

We've been doing this podcast for over a year, now. We wanted to take the opportunity to look back at 2024 and what we learned. We also wanted to look to the future and what 2025 might hold in store for us and the ag industry. We hope you enjoy the looking back and looking forward conversation.

Supply Chain Part #2 What is it and how does it affect our daily lives? We really didn't pay attention to the supply chain until COVID and our grocery store shelves were empty. Then we paid attention! We continue our conversation with Dr. Susan Olson, CEO of Action Intel, to discuss the supply chain, in general, and then focus on her expertise in inland waterway transportation and its affect on the supply chain. Join us for the conversation! #VisionTechPerspectives https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Supply Chain What is it and how does it affect our daily lives? We really didn't pay attention to the supply chain until COVID and our grocery store shelves were empty. Then we paid attention! We talk with Dr. Susan Olson, CEO of Action Intel, to discuss the supply chain, in general, and then focus on her expertise in inland waterway transportation and its affect on the supply chain. Join us for the conversation! #VisionTechPerspectives https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Brand Loyalty. In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we are keeping with the topic of Brand Loyalty. With this episode we continue looking at brand loyalty from the vendor perspective. We continue our conversation with Phil Swain, retired Vice President with PNC Bank. Join us to hear how Phil worked throughout his career in gaining the trust and loyalty of the customer. #VisionTechPerspecitves https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Brand Loyalty. In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we are keeping with the topic of Brand Loyalty. We had started with the grower/customer perspective. With this episode we start looking at brand loyalty from the vendor perspective. We start with this perspective in the banking segment. We talk with Phil Swain, retired Vice President with PNC Bank. Join us to hear how Phil worked throughout his career in gaining the trust and loyalty of the customer. #VisionTechPerspecitves https://visiontechmgmt.com/resources/podcast/

Doug and I a conversation about how different generations made buying decisions and worked with vendors. As we had that conversation, it reminded me of a similar conversation I had with a farmer I know. So, in this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we have very special guests, Del and Lance Unger of Unger Farms and Show Cattle. We talked with Del and Lance on how they work with Vendors and how they make their buying decisions. This discussion also led into a discussion on brand loyalty. Join us for the conversation.

In the last episode, we talked about "Going Home to Farm" and the work to transition the kids from "farm labor" to becoming decision-makers and the succession plan for the operation. And we continue that conversation in a little different vein. But what about those who want to go home to farm, but the opportunities aren't there? What happens then? We talk about personal experiences. We talk about opportunities moving forward. Join us for the conversation.

It's the dream of a farm family. The parents dream that they are building an operation that they will pass down to their children and grandchildren. The kids dream that they go home and take over the farm. Then reality sets in. The parents are running the operation and the kids continue to be the labor of the operation. The kids see things that they want to change because of what they have learned at school and seen on other operations. Transition is hard. Join us for this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives.

The Ag industry, like any other industry, has a number of associations, such as The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers, National Soybean Growers, National Wheat Growers, National Pork Producers, etc., that are the voice of that particular segment of the industry. But at what point do all of these segment associations speak for agriculture as one voice for policy and education? In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, Doug and Dave discuss how agriculture is under significant scrutiny needs to speak as one. Join us for the conversation. #VisionTechPerspectives

Farmers and Ranchers are passionate about what they do. It is their livelihood, their passion, their hobby, pretty much who they are. They are a farmer. They are a rancher. With that being said, it would be very easy to make decisions based on emotions rather than business information. In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we talk about the emotions of farming from a very personal point of view. Listen in to the conversation. #VisionTechPerspectives

In 2023, a grain contract was, accidently or on purpose, executed with an emoji response to a text from the grain merchandizer. There was disagreement on the intent of the response. It went to the courts and was upheld. So what's the future of how contracts can be executed? In this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we talk with Todd Janzen, Attorney, out of Indianapolis, Indiana to get a legal perspective on the mentioned case as well as how the industry may move forward going into the future. Join us for the conversation!

Ag Technology has been pretty much mainstream since the mid-1990's.Today, our personal lives are inundated with technology from our phones, to our vehicles, even our homes can be set up as "smart devices."So why are farmers and ranchers so reluctant to adopt the ag technology on their operations?On this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives, we ask those questions and try to provide some insights on the "why not" and offer insights to better move forward in the industry.

We've been reading all kinds of things about the "Bird Flu," "Avian Flu", H5N1 and more names that I'm not sure I can remember. But what is the real story that's not in the media? What's being done about mitigating this virus? Could this be the "next big thing" in the news outside of agriculture? We ask the questions that we and probably others are wanting to know about the "Bird Flu" and its infection in dairy herds and reported cases in people. We talk with Dr. Bret Marsh, DVM, the Indiana state veterinarian and someone who is on the front lines of this issue and hear more about the virus and what is being done to corral this virus. (And, yes, pun intended. :) )

You're looking at a limited market as your operation stands today. How do you grow the operation, whether you are just looking at growth or if you are needing to expand for kids returning to the operation.In this episode, we discuss some of the things that should be considered when looking at diversifying the operation.

Policies and programs have been a part of agriculture for years, but they seem to be taking on a more significant role in today's operations as we need to navigate, not just the farm bill, but the more political programs, such as the Inflation Reduction Act 45Z and Carbon Sequestration as an example. Do you know what is going on with policy and programs that will affect your operation? Doug and Dave discuss some of the key topics of policies and programs in this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives.

In this episode, Doug and Dave discuss the fast-paced Ag Technology market. Today, a lot is going on with mergers & acquisitions, buyouts, VC investments and a whole slew of start ups. But what does that mean for the customer, agribusiness or grower? What do they buy? Who do they trust for a longer-term relationship? These questions and more in this episode of Vision Tech Perspectives.

Landlords, Tenants & Farm Management companies. How is this dynamic changing in the industry? In this episode, Doug and Dave discuss what is happening with land rental auctions, dealing with the absentee landlords and working with the respective farm management companies. Enjoy the conversation!

There are so many things going on with Carbon Sequestration and the contracts that are available in the market today, Doug and Dave discuss some of the things that are going on and what to keep on eye on when considering entering the carbon market.

This is Part #3 of our conversation with Dr. Jay Akridge, Purdue University, talking about the Land Grant university's role in today's fast-pace ag industry and its still-vital role in research and education.

This is Part #2 of our conversation with Dr. Jay Akridge, Purdue University, talking about the Land Grant university's role in today's fast-pace ag industry and its still-vital role in research and education.

Where does the Land Grant University fit in today's fast moving ag tech industry? Our guest for this episode is Dr. Jay Akridge, former Dean of the College of Agriculture and former Provost of Purdue University. Currently, Jay is back on the faculty in Agricultural Economics at Purdue We had the opportunity to talk with Jay about Land Grant Universities and its place in today’s industry.  With the changes in the industry from when the land grant system was created, the access of information from the industry as well as the internet and the speed the industry is changing, we wanted to better understand where the Land Grants fit and how we can take advantage of the resources available from all sources in our industry. This is Part One of the conversation with Dr. Jay Akridge.

Our culture is inundated with acronyms. It has become a norm for agriculture as well. The latest acronym that we're now seeing is EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient). In this episode, Doug and Dave discuss EIQ and how it intersects with ESG (Environmental, Social Governance) and how we will run our operations in the future. Join us in the conversation and share your questions and thoughts in the comments below.

We continue our conversation with Alan Hoskins. However, we change the subject to a sideline of Alan's. Used farm equipment. That used to be a fairly simple topic. Evaluate what you need. Find options, whether at your local dealership or another farmer who is ready to sell. Make sure that the piece of equipment is sound and there are no surprises. And you make the purchase. Today, it can be a little more complicated. A farmer or rancher still takes the above into consideration, but they now need to evaluate the technology that is on the used piece that is being considered. Hours and price are not all that you need to know. Some things that need to be taken into consideration. Does the equipment have the same level of technology. For example. If your operation is using RTK correction for automatic steering, then you need to make sure that the used equipment has RTK or the upgrade to RTK is included in the purchase. This is just the start of the conversation in the next episode of Vision Tech Perspectives. We continue our conversation with Alan Hoskins, President and National Sales Manager for American Farm Mortgage & Financial Services. Alan is a bit of a used equipment guy and we discuss the used equipment and the technology that we need to be aware of when we purchase used equipment.

Historically, there are aspects of business, even outside of agriculture, that we have tended not to question. We find someone we like to work with and then we continue to do business with them. Without question. Without checking with other vendors to make sure we are getting what we need. One of those, outside of agriculture, tends to be a real estate agent (at least for me). The other, and the topic of this episode, is your ag banker. In this episode, we welcome a special guest, Alan Hoskins, President & National Sales Director of American Farm Mortgage & Financial Services. We'll talk with Alan concerning the should you and how should you question your banker. Alan also offers other things that you should be expecting from your banker that can be very important to your operation.

We've seen the commercials about "impossible burgers," "beyond meat" and plant-based burgers. These are products that are using plant-based products to replicate the texture, the look and the taste of a beef hamburger. When we talk about "Lab-Raised Meat," we are not talking about a plant-based product. We will be talking about meat raised from meat in a lab. What are the drivers behind these initiatives? What are the implications to production agriculture? Join us in the discussion on Lab-Raised Meat and learn with us!

You're in a conversation and, at some point, you realize that you're not really talking about the same things. Yes, you are using the same terms, but you realize that your definitions of those terms are different. Now there's confusion. That's really where we are, and have been in ag technology. Even when I was with AGCO and Southern States, we had a glossary for our team to refer to so that there was no confusion among us. There are newer terms and acronyms in the ag industry that seem to have multiple definitions and are causing confusion. In this episode, Doug and Dave will dig a little deeper into some of those terms to, hopefully, give a better understanding to these terms and acronyms. We hope you enjoy the next episode of Vision Tech Perspectives!

With all of the technology in the market and so much new technology being released every day, how to you discern between the Urgent vs. the Important? We talk about the noise of the industry and looking at what is Urgent vs. Important on your operation. Not your neighbor's or competitor's operation. Not the industry as a whole. What's Urgent vs. Important on YOUR operation. Join us for this episode and we will discuss how to look at the differences between the two and how to discern between the two.

We have an expectation in anything we do. Whether in our personal or professional life. How do you manage the expectations for the technology on your operation? Too many times we have "Unknown," "Unrealistic" expectations for some of the technology we buy and then become very disappointed with the product or service and blame the vendor that it didn't do what we expected it to do. We must move toward "Known," "Realistic" expectations so that everyone is on the proverbial same page and expectations are met or even exceeded. We will discuss how to best address the expectations of the ag technology tools, services and programs on this episode.