The Scoop Podcast

With decades of experience in agribusiness, Clayton Becker, Chief Operating Officer at Vane, says his company answers a question unlike anyone else—while farmers have crop insurance or other risk management tools, what’s available for ag retailers? For the past five years, Vane has been providing coverage policies for those who sell and service product to farmers. And he says there&rsq...

High input prices have escalated the scrutiny farmers are putting toward their fertilizer products, placements and rates. How can retailers navigate these challenges? And what does it take to bring new products in such a dynamic time? Greg Sanford, vice president of sales at Verdesian, leans on his own previous retail experience and shares what retailers expect from suppliers right now, the key po...

With nearly three decades of experience in ag retail, Cory Wermert has started a consulting business focusing on helping businesses and potential employees find their best fit in roles in the industry. He shares insights in how to recruit and retain successful employees and leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ARA’s Richard Gupton and Hunter Carpenter share insights on the latest legislation and policy effecting the ag retail industry. This includes, the One Big Beautiful Bill, the future of a Farm Bill, DOT regulations and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather Thompson, Executive Director of enterprise marketing at Growmark, shares the details behind the new campaign—Start to Finish. She explains how Growmark is investing in its retail footprint and optimizing farmer customer relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thad England, director of U.S. strategic accounts with Groundwork BioAg, shares his experience in taking carbon market opportunities to farmers, and how those programs are changing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As director of R&D and Innovation at Forge Genetics International, Emily Meccage has a lot to share about the breeding work being done for alfalfa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the west coast to Wisconsin and through the central corn belt, Cody Steinkamp with Doyle Manufacturing helps ag retailers outfit their dry fertilizer warehouses to serve customers today and into the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Barton, procurement manager at Simplot Grower Solutions, manages the supply chain of crop protection, adjuvants, micronutrients, and biologicals for the company’s retail locations west of the Rocky Mountains. In total, that’s over 100 supplier relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benny Andres, who oversees the product management team at Bushel, shares how technology—and specifically software—can be used to strengthen the relationship between farmers and their trusted advisers. He says the Bushel team is applying a focus on how to do business better, and when value is demonstrated in the technology adoption, farmers the first in line to be adopters. See omnystud...

With the final herbicide rule and final insecticide rule announced by EPA, new product labels and FIFRA re-registration comes with additional regulation. Hear from independent consultants James Todd and Steve Hoffman about what everyone should know and how this year is pivotal to the future of pesticide use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Moore, president of the National Ag Aviation Association, shares how this progressive, and mature industry contributes to the agricultural industry applying on more than 127 million acres each year. With an expanding industry of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, Moore gives top tips and best practices for every aerial application. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken Zuckerberg, head of global research at CHS Inc., says while current times are VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous), ag retailers should avoid making any quick decisions and spend even more time with customers. Zuckerberg also shares his latest thesis for where U.S. agriculture can find success, and it has to do with “Shake ‘N Bake”…. The key qualities for...

For more than 10 years, ResponsibleAg has been an industry-led program where retailers receive compliance audits to stay on track with their regulated safety standards. Industry ambassador Tim McArdle and ARA CEO Daren Coppock share case studies in how ResponsibleAg is an asset for ag retailers in their everyday business across 2,356 locations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Sawyer is the agronomy director at Five Star Cooperative in northern Iowa. He shares what is driving their business forward, and the three things that stand out as tools to bring value to customers and differentiate their business in the marketplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trey Malone, Boehlje Chair in Managerial Economics for Agribusiness at Purdue University, says he is working to reshape the way the industry thinks about economic principles in agriculture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Gupton and Hunter Carpenter from the Agricultural Retailers Association give their updates and insights on top policy issues for the ag retail industry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now with two full years of experience in the field, Jeff Crissinger and the team at Nu-Way K&H Cooperative are ready to share their takeaways and insights on how selective spraying is changing custom application. With positive grower reception, impressive results, and demand for more, they are adding a second machine this year–using both Greeneye Technology and John Deere See and Spray....

The team at Growers Edge aims to de-risk a farmer from adopting new practices or new products. They have financial technology tools, offered commonly via ag retailers, which can be used to strengthen their relationships with customers and lead to faster adoption of those products and services. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erich Eller and the Forefront Ag team work with growers to conquer legacy mindsets that may be holding growers back. Using technology, agronomic advising, and an openness to try new things, he and his team are looking to move the needle while recognizing risks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clay Houchin, chief operating officer at Buttonwillow Warehouse Company, explains how the history of the company helps shape how its evolution in serving California growers. He says an adaptability to meet regulations while offering leading technology for data-driven decisions has been key. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s ag economy has changed the way United Prairie is partnering with its farmer customers. The focus is still keenly on return on investment, but CEO Curt Miller explains, there are key considerations for how United Prairie is showing up differently for their customers. Their team out of Tolono, Ill., is the 2024 recipient of The Scoop Business Innovation Award, sponsored by Ever. Ag Agr...

Scott Kay, vice president of U.S. agricultural solutions at BASF, details the seed technology, crop protection solutions, and more that farmers and retailers can expect in the near future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Martinelli specializes in ag sales team development and shares what can be resolutions for the 2025 selling season. He gives 7 tips for salespeople in the current ag economic cycle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netafim, an international pioneer for subsurface irrigation, has a new offering in its GrowSphere operating system. As Mike Hemman, SVP North America for Netafim explains it’s one tool the company is bringing forward to further refine and improve water efficiency and yields. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.