Getting Farmers More Involved with Agtech Companies

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Today there are more options than ever for digital tools on the farm. However, farmers don’t want to carry several different apps that don’t interact with each other. Saskatchewan farmer Kristjan Hebert says he would like to see more collaboration amongst agtech providers to integrate these solutions.

Hebert… “It kind of reminds me a little bit of farmers, right? The ag tech companies are kind of going through this fierce individualism, right, or independence. And I think agriculture has the same issue, right? Farmers are fiercely independent it's what lets us beat mother nature and get through these problems. But at the same time, we don't collaborate very well. And I think the ag tech industry is kind of following that same issue right now. The collaboration is a bit weak, and sometimes they need to focus a little more on the check writer and that's the farmer versus what they're deciding in the boardroom.”

Hebert also points to the fact that farmers need to have more of a role in the development of these products and companies.

Hebert… “You know, I think they need to do a little better job of having farm advisors and having unique schemes to get farmers in it as advisors. Whether that's stock options or, you know, free use of the tool for X number of years, as long as you're providing advice. And they really need to understand how their technology is going to change a daily decision.”

Hebert is the owner of Hebert Grain Ventures and Maverick Ag, a consulting and farm risk management company.