Ensuring a Secure Food Supply System into the Future

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak visits with Rob Amuzzini, CEO & Co-Founder of NetGreen.com about his crowdfunding platform, and the potential benefits of decentralization in the industry.

Rob is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in corporate and strategic finance spanning multiple industries, including Technology and Agriculture. Renowned for his adeptness at fostering collaboration and innovation, he possesses a remarkable ability to bring together individuals and ideas to tackle intricate challenges and unearth fresh opportunities. At the helm of NetGreen.com, a FINRA registered funding portal, he leads efforts dedicated to supporting and nurturing businesses within the agriculture sector.

In today's discussion, we will explore alternative avenues for funding small agricultural businesses and delve into strategies for public investment in agriculture. Additionally, we will delve into the concept of decentralizing the food supply chain, a topic of increasing importance in our ever-evolving world.

NetGreen Capital is the premier crowdfunding and impact investing platform for farms and agribusinesses nationwide. Our revenue-based notes allow farmers and business owners the opportunity to raise the funds they need without collateral, without giving up equity in their business, and with comparable industry interest rates. Learn more at https://www.netgreen.com/.

NetGreen.com serves as a facilitator in the investment process, bridging the gap between businesses and investors. Businesses utilize the platform to issue investment offerings on its Marketplace, while investors explore the Marketplace in search of investment prospects. The platform facilitates the exchange of investment agreements and funds, ensuring a seamless transaction process. Additionally, NetGreen.com manages investment repayments and distributions from the issuing businesses back to the investors. Positioned as a digital investment platform for private company investments, it offers an alternative to publicly traded stocks. Ultimately, NetGreen.com empowers farms and businesses by providing them direct access to funding from the communities they serve.

Learn more at https://NetGreen.com. Follow on Instagram @netgreencapital, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553732545129
#farminvesting #farming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

Listen to the podcast here - https://www.northamericanag.com/north-american-ag-spotlight

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks with David Magaña, Senior Analyst – Horticulture at RaboResearch/Rabobank. In his role, David is tasked with analyzing the fresh fruit and vegetable industries in the United States and North America. With a rich background in agriculture, David brings extensive experience to his current position. Prior to joining Rabobank, he served as the deputy director of economic research for FIRA – Banco de México, where he conducted in-depth analyses of the agricultural sector for over a decade. David's expertise encompasses various aspects of the agricultural landscape, including ag market integration, consumer trends in fresh produce markets, food security, and food price dynamics. Additionally, he has shared his knowledge and insights as a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

David holds a bachelor's degree, along with a master's degree and a PhD in agricultural economics, all earned from Texas A&M University. His academic background coupled with his practical experience uniquely position him to offer valuable insights into the intersection of agriculture and finance.

Recently, David delivered a compelling presentation at the Association of Agriculture Consultants Conference in Fresno, California, where he provided a comprehensive report on the economy and the state of the industry. Today, we have the pleasure of delving deeper into the current challenges facing producers, particularly in the realm of vegetable and specialty crops, and exploring how these issues reverberate throughout the broader economy.

David Magaña is the Senior Analyst in Horticulture at Rabobank/RaboResearch, specializing in the analysis of the US and North American fresh fruit and vegetable industries. With a distinguished career in agriculture, David's journey began as the deputy director of economic research for FIRA – Banco de México, where he dedicated over a decade to conducting thorough analyses of the agricultural sector. His expertise extends across multiple domains, including ag market integration, consumer behavior in fresh produce markets, food security, and food price dynamics.

In addition to his professional roles, David has contributed to academia as a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he shared his knowledge and passion for agricultural economics with students. He holds a bachelor's degree, as well as master's and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics, all earned from Texas A&M University.

David's recent presentation at the Association of Agriculture Consultants Conference in Fresno, California, showcased his ability to provide insightful analyses of the economy and industry trends. Today, David joins us to discuss pressing issues facing producers, particularly in vegetable and specialty crops, and to explore their broader implications for the economy. We are honored to welcome David Magaña to our interview, and we eagerly anticipate the valuable insights he will share with us today.

Learn more about RaboResearch visit - https://research.rabobank.com/far/en/home/index.html

#economics #agribusiness #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northa

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks with Kevin Barley, President of The Florida Bamboo Growers Association. We dive into the lesser-known but deeply rooted agricultural landscape of Florida with a focus on the citrus industry and the emerging bamboo market. Our guest today has a heritage deeply embedded in the Florida citrus industry, tracing back to 1900 when his great grandfather planted their first citrus grove. From a stint on the NYC trading floor during college to leading his father's commodity trading business, he's now at the forefront of the bamboo farming industry as the President of Greenfield Bamboo Investments. Join us as we explore the rich history, opportunities, and challenges of Florida agriculture with Kevin Barley. Tune in for an insightful conversation you won't want to miss!

Learn more about The Florida Bamboo Growers Association at https://fbgabamboo.com/

Learn more about Greenfield Bamboo Investments at https://www.greenfieldbamboo.net/

#bamboo #bamboofarming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak visits with Gary Hirsch, Founder and President of Global Opportunities. Gary shares his insight into how increasing and strengthening our ties with Africa could be an excellent strategy on many levels.

Global Opportunities was founded in order to deepen the economic ties between the people of Africa and the people of the United States and is committed to identifying those opportunities where by working together, jobs and economic growth can be created on both sides while also strengthening the "personal bonds" between Africa's people and the people of the United States. For too long America's adversaries have taken advantage of the United States being economically focused elsewhere and it is time to change this through the building of new partnerships between American and African businesses.

Gary Hirsch is the founder and President of Global Opportunities Inc., a United States based company dedicated to increasing trade and economic ties between  U.S. and developing countries, primarily in the Middle East/North Africa region as well as those in Sub Saharan Africa. Mr. Hirsch developed the concept for Global Opportunities based on his concern that in a globally competitive world, increasing  interaction between United States companies and developing economies will not only result in opening up new markets for American products but can also help to provide tremendous opportunities for citizens of the developing world in terms of increasing access to the American market and providing new training opportunities helping to lift local standards of living and address high rates of developing world unemployment.

 Mr. Hirsch has an extensive background in political and governmental affairs. With over 30 years of experience in the operation and management of Municipal and County political campaigns, Mr. Hirsch is recognized as one of the leading municipal campaign consultants serving the Central New Jersey region. Having participated in and/or managed numerous successful political campaigns, he has been responsible for all facets of campaign operations including but not limited to message development, fundraising,  volunteer recruitment, voter identification and targeting ,  opposition research, budgeting, grass roots support building,  and the development and implementation of all Get Out the Vote efforts leading up to and including Election Day for both  local and County candidates  and  in coordination  at the Municipal Level , with campaigns at other levels of government including State Legislature, Governor, Congress and U.S. President. In addition to this experience, Mr. Hirsch also served in the campaign of President Bill Clinton as Regional Field Coordinator in the early primary states of New Hampshire and Maine  in parts of Northern New Hampshire and West Central Maine.

Learn more about Global Opportunities at https://www.globalopportunities.net
#farm #farming #agriculture

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight, Chrissy Wozniak talks to Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, about the regulations affecting California and how these regulations tend to move east. Farmers across the nation should pay attention to what could soon end up on their doorstep, Ryan explains why. Ryan also talks about the incredible ag industry in California, and especially in his home county of Fresno. 

Ryan Jacobsen brings a deep-rooted connection to Farm Bureau and a profound understanding of agriculture as the fourth generation of two esteemed Fresno County farm families. With a notable history within the organization, Jacobsen previously held roles as FCFB's governmental affairs coordinator and membership coordinator, beginning his service in 2004. A graduate of California State University, Fresno, he holds a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in animal science. Jacobsen's academic achievements include serving two terms as associated student body president at Fresno State and receiving recognition as the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Dean's Medalist and Craig School of Business Graduate Dean's Medalist. Currently, he is extensively involved, serving as the president of the Fresno Irrigation District Board of Directors, vice chair of the Kings River Water Association, chair of Fresno County's Agricultural Lands Conservation Committee, and contributing to the boards of California Farmland Trust and the Rotary Club of Fresno Foundation.

Follow Ryan Jacobsen on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanjacobsen/

Learn more about Fresno County Farm Bureau at - https://www.fcfb.org/
#farm #farming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

Listen to the podcast here - https://www.northamericanag.com/north-american-ag-spotlight

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak sits down with American Agri-Women Past President Heather Hampton+Knodle to discuss what to expect this year in terms of the election, policy and how to manage the constant barrage of incoming information. 

American Agri-Women is a grass roots organization of women from farms, ranches and agri-business forming a nationwide coalition of state and commodity affiliates and at-large members with a mission to provide networking and leadership development opportunities as we educate each other and the public about issues impacting our ability to feed, fuel and clothe our country and others around the world.

Heather Hampton+Knodle grew up working on her family’s farm near Windsor, Illinois and continues to farm with her husband Brian and their four children in Montgomery County where they grow corn, soybeans, winter wheat and black Angus cattle. Their use of technology informs their efforts to apply regenerative practices across their farm and capture data to improve management. Heather earned her bachelors in agriculture news/editorial with emphasis in geography and economics and the equivalent of a minor in Russian language and area studies from the Univ. of Illinois, including an academic year at the University of Nottingham, England and exchange with St. Petersburg Agricultural Institute in Russia. Her masters work in post-socialist privatization was at University of Illinois Springfield as she launched her communication consulting business that quickly evolved into association management. Heather has served as Executive Director for the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association and statewide organizations in Illinois as well as the volunteer Past President of Illinois Agri-Women. She was the founding chairman of the public-private Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation and the $250 million, 11-county bond authority Central Illinois Economic Development Authority. In her time as an elected official on the Montgomery County Board, she helped leverage $6000 in coal royalty funds into a more than $15 million privately-funded fiberoptic to the premises buildout.

She has been appointed by four governors to serve on the Illinois Governor’s Rural Affairs Council and was reappointed in 2021 by the Federal Communications Commission to serve on the Precision Agriculture Task Force and chair the Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand Working Group. Heather also serves as Farm Journal Foundation’s Lead Farmer for Illinois to advocate for agricultural research investments and training for smallholder farmers in developing countries. 

Learn more about American Agri-Women at https://americanagriwomen.org.

Read the NY ruling mentioned in the discussion here - https://regs.health.ny.gov/sites/default/files/proposed-regulations/Investigation%20of%20Communicable%20Disease%3B%20Isolation%20and%20Quarantine.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3Z-HBjs_0qyCJPgx9FjxQdhPMs5_xDtOOTRnEsjO7ksecn4GC8qUA3uXg

#agwomenunite #farm #farming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMEN

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak hears from Dean Barke, President of Fastline. Dean shares his insight into big iron trends for 2024. 

With more than 40 years of experience, Fastline's commitment to the agricultural industry, it's customers, and farmers is unparalleled. With Fastline Print, Fastline.com, and Fastline Digital, they offer integrated marketing solutions for the evolving agricultural community. Simply put, no one else has their combination of audience and wide array of marketing tools. 

Fastline Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. They make it simple for their customers – auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website. Fastline Auctions are heavily promoted through their robust digital marketing campaigns as well as Fastline’s print catalog.

Learn more about Fastline at https://fastline.com
#farm #farming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

Listen to the podcast here - https://www.northamericanag.com/north-american-ag-spotlight - Navigating Your Career in Agriculture

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to Dustin Toberman about how to navigate your career, whether you're just starting out, or changing lanes mid-career. Dustin shares his story of starting out as a barge deckhand on the Mississippi, and the lessons he learned as he climbed the ladder. He shares what led him to start his company, OMNI Ag, and his podcast "Boot Pit to Boardroom".

Being raised around a family-operated grain business gave him the opportunity to witness how important good people can be to an organization. His father and grandfather showed him that without the right people who are true to your company’s values, your business will die. Early on, he recognized the need for leaders to support and champion their people. He took that philosophy with him throughout his career outside the family business in the agriculture industry.

Dustin's first job in the industry was as a barge deckhand on the Mississippi. The work was physically demanding and dangerous but it allowed him to see the world from the perspective of those at the foundation of a company. On a daily basis, he was reminded that the company could not succeed without their buy-in and hard work. As his career advanced he was awarded more responsibility and the opportunity to lead people, starting out in operations and eventually in the corporate office leading an entire district. Dustin's travels took him to new locations meeting new challenges with a diverse array of teams. No matter where he went, he took with him the lessons learned on the barges and in the bins of his family’s grain business.

In Dustin's 20+ years in the industry, he's learned that no matter what business he's worked with, the key to success was always the same: Having the right people on your team is the difference between winning and losing. Many of those he's worked with have gone on to find success leading their own teams. Although different in many ways, all of those people carried with them certain winning traits.

OMNI Ag is in the business of building futures, with career placement services focused on lasting success for talent and businesses alike. With proven methods for talent acquisition and retention, they partner with businesses to define and strengthen company culture. 

Learn more about OMINI Ag at https://omni-ag.com/
#farm #farming #agriculture

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE. Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Need help with your agriculture based company's marketing plan? https://www.northamericanag.com/full-service-agri-marketing

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight we share an episode of the Rural Sales Show, hosted by St. John Craner of Agrarian, based in New Zealand. St. John invited Chrissy on the show to discuss marketing automation, and how it can be leveraged in agriculture based companies. They also discuss how important it is to have a strategic plan when exhibiting at farm shows. so you're actually generating customers not just spending money.

St John has over 25 years of corporate sales and marketing agency experience in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand working for the likes of McCann Erickson, Young & Rubicam and Westpac. He comes from a farming family in the UK and is a Lincoln University Kellogg scholar.

His current focus is in sales coaching, helping rural companies and agribusinesses bridge the gap between sales and marketing with an emphasis on supporting the buyer’s buying process (learning to speak the buyer’s language) vs traditional, self-serving selling. Though he has mastered the rural sales space, St John’s expertise in teaching sales teams world-wide how human-centered psychology changes the selling process is universally applicable. St John has advised leading agribusiness companies such as John Deere, Vodafone, Bayer, DeLaval, DLF Seeds, Gallagher and World Wide Sires.

Agrarian is New Zealand’s most trusted rural sales and marketing training company, dedicated exclusively to the business of agribusiness. Agrarians help agribusiness grow using digital strategies, marketing campaigns, sales training, and farmer panel research. This positions them better in their marketplace to uphold margin and sell more products for more revenue to more customers more of the time.

Learn more at - https://www.agrarian.co.nz
Free How To Succeed In Rural Sales ebook - www.ruralsalessuccess.com
Rural Sales Training Calculator - https://www.agrarian.co.nz/rural-sales-training-calculator
St. John Craner - www.linkedin.com/in/stjohncraner
#agribusiness #ruralsales #agriculture

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North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

This episode is sponsored by Fastline - A LEADER IN FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

🌟 This week we recap the insightful panel discussion on agricultural technology: "Things Growers Want to Know Before Deciding to Purchase an AgTech Automation Solution" at the FIRA USA Conference in September 2023.

After evaluating multiple solutions, the grower is ready to move towards a purchase decision. What happens now? Usually there's a field trial where baseline is captured and change measured to confirm it delivers as expected. The details of the purchase are worked through - will it be a direct sale or a channel sale through a partner, and will it be an equipment purchase, a lease, or an as-a-service subscription style purchase? Who is going to support the product and what functionality exists now and what will be added later and when? What kind of ROI expectations do large growers have (i.e. what kind of payback period are they targeting), and how do those map to other growers and smaller growers?

🌱 The Journey from Evaluation to Purchase Decision:
Discover the pivotal steps growers take after evaluating multiple AgTech solutions. Our panelists, including Bartley Walker and Josh Roberts, shared their experiences navigating the path to the final purchase decision.

🚜 Insights into Field Trials:
Get a closer look at the dynamics of field trials, where baseline data is captured and changes are measured to ensure the effectiveness of chosen AgTech solutions. The panelists provided valuable insights into making field trials impactful.

💡 Intricacies of the Purchase Process:
Explore the intricacies involved in the purchase process – from deciding on a direct sale or a channel sale through a partner to choosing between equipment purchase, lease, or an as-a-service subscription. Learn from the experiences of industry leaders.

🛠️ Product Support and Functionality:
Find out who supports the product post-purchase and gain insights into the existing functionalities. Our panelist, Josh Ruiz addressed questions about product support and future enhancements.

📈 Decoding ROI Expectations:
Dive into the nuanced world of ROI expectations, understanding how large growers set payback periods and how these expectations align with those of smaller growers. Gain a comprehensive understanding from our expert panel.

Expert Panelists:
🌾 Bartley Walker | President | Pacific Ag Rental
🌾 Josh Roberts | President | Triangle Farms
🌾 Josh Ruiz | Sr. Director of Ag Technology and Innovation | Duda Farm Fresh Foods
🌾 With Moderator Chrissy Wozniak | Founder | North American Ag

Relive the thought-provoking discussion that unfolded on September 20th, offering valuable insights and empowering attendees to successfully navigate the complex landscape of AgTech adoption.

Stay tuned for future events and continue your journey into the world of ag tech with insights from our expert panelists!

Learn more about FIRA USA at fira-usa.com
#agtech #farming #smartfarming

North American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.com

Want to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.com

Don't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!

FASTLINE AUCTIONS
Auctions is the only auction platform with over 40 years of data to target more farmers than any other. We also make it super simple for our customers – our auctions are embedded directly into Fastline.com’s current website listings, so there’s no need for buyers to visit a separate website.
Learn more at Fastline.com!

Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com