Today, during Day 2 of Farmer2Farmer IV, farmers were focused on learning new ways to Take Control of their farms in 2019. At breakfast, farmers connected with their small discussion and networking groups (FBN Crop Circles) to clearly define the aspects of their operations they want to take back control of, and most importantly, how to do it.
Adam Savage, co-host from Discovery Channel's™ MythBusters, took the crowd on an explosive journey through his time on the show, and left us ready to challenge the status quo.
Throughout the afternoon, farmers selected panels topics and sessions to best guide and support them as they work to tackle some of the biggest issues they’re facing back on their farm.
FBN℠ 2019 ANNOUNCEMENTS
FBN Co-Founder Charles Baron kicked off a review of the last year at Farmers Business Network and covered new FBN businesses established to help farmers thrive!
Announcements included: FBN Health, FBN Crop Insurance, FBN Crop Marketing, breaking research on seed zone pricing and many more!
HEALTHCARE ON THE FARM
“Stress on the farm is 12 months a year,” said Ted Matthews, a mental health practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in counseling in rural areas. His focus for the past two decades has been farmer mental health support.
Ted was one of several industry leaders and experts on today’s Healthcare on the Farm panel, including Dan Whitney, president and CEO of Medova Healthcare Financial Group; Dr. Phil Polakoff, physician, CEO and host of A Healthier Me, a disruptive, innovative venture situated at the intersection of medicine, health and media; Rachel Hartford, administrator at Heartland Community Health Center in Kansas; and Lucas Strom, head of FBN Insurance covered three challenges with the healthcare industry
From cost of coverage and access to care to managing personal wellness and stressors, today’s panel emphasized that the healthcare industry is complex, but options for taking back control over farmer health doesn’t have to be.
Hear from panelist Rachel Hartford on factors that influence rural health & wellness:
Regenerative agriculture is a systems approach to soil management, not just your tillage practice or fertility. One of the key takeaways from today's no-till and regenerative ag panel discussion with farmers Doug Palen (KS), Justin Knopf (KS), Rick Bieber (SD) and Lance Feikert (KS) was centered around the five principles of soil health:
Continual living root
Minimize disturbance
Soil armor
Livestock integration
Plant diversity
Farmers discussed how regenerative ag is not only an agronomic strategy, but can be a core marketing advantage for their farms.
Remember that FBN members can enter your tillage info on all your fields in FBN.
FARMING SUSTAINABLY VIA ORGANICS: INTERVIEW WITH J.P. RHEA OF AGRISECURE
J.P. Rhea is a fifth-generation farmer—his grandfather taught him at a young age, “to be good to the land and it will be good to you.”
Hear J.P. talk about why he farms organic and how he helps other farmers successfully transition acres to organic production along with his team at AgriSecure.
FBN + AGFUNDER STARTUP COMPETITION
More than 70 companies ag startup companies entered to pitch their ideas to Farmer2Farmer, which we narrowed down to the best and most innovative, representing practical technologies that could provide real solutions for on-farm challenges.
A panel of judges, including farmers, media, investors and FBN’s own product team determined which of the following startups was best in class!
Augean Robotics - Meet Burro® - A Collaborative Robot For Work Outdoors
Centaur Ag - Building a Global, Post-Harvest Quality Chain
FeedX - We Empower Farmers By Bringing The Ag Supply Industry Online
Kiwi Technologies - KiwiTech's unique program for startups includes technology support, investment, go-to-market support and mentoring. We enable entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into cutting-edge products.
Rogo Ag - Accurate Robotic Soil Sampling
PRESS COVERAGE
Fox Business® News and a host of local media outlets were also in attendance - eager to learn more about the trade war and the issues farmers are facing. Stay tuned for more coverage!
Fox Business which is a registered trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. DISCOVERY CHANNEL is a trademark of Discovery Communications, LLC.