Think of it like a giant funnel, says Growmark’s Lance Ruppert of the new AgValidity testing program, designed to cut through the technology clutter and sort out the best new tech and platforms for farmers.
Launched this spring, AgValidity enables Growmark to partner with emerging technologies from all over the world, and test them on real Midwest farms to get a feel for what works — and what doesn’t.
“We can take technology from all these different companies and do real-world testing,” says Ruppert, director of agronomy marketing technology at Growmark. “And it’s a sign to these companies that we’re relevant, we’re innovative, and we’re not the old co-op.”
Ruppert says his team recently tested five different aerial imagery companies and evaluated them on five to six key pieces. They ultimately moved forward with two in 2019. “We got good feedback, which is useful as we vet out new technologies and platforms.”
They’re also helping test and develop sensors that would detect disease in one of the country’s most popular apples, the Honeycrisp. They’ve got two sensors in orchards at Eckert’s in Belleville, Ill.; two in orchards at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and more up in Michigan orchards.
With FS member companies in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario, the organization is in a unique geographic position to test and deliver technologies across a lot of different climates, crops and soil types. Ruppert says others might be doing something similar under the radar, but Growmark is not aware of them.
Ruppert says they get two kinds of groups approaching them for testing. The first is the companies themselves, trying to learn how to make their product better. The other is venture capital investors, looking for help either validating their investment or making it better.
“With our expertise, technology companies are increasingly looking for a partner to help test new products, and AgValidity will help identify cutting-edge products and services that can improve our customers’ bottom line,” Ruppert says.
He started looking at the fast array of products a couple of years ago, and began talking to companies. “During that time, we were talking to companies, and they were like, ‘Oh. That’s pretty cool.’ And then you ask, ‘Could we work with you? Could we test? Could we get our feet wet?’” he describes.
Last year, Growmark tested imagery tech, including a solar sensor to measure nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, pH, and organic matter. “We still haven’t got one of those in this year. It’s startup companies, so it can be hit and miss.”
Ruppert says they have 25 to 30 projects going this year, with plans to add more in the areas of analytical technologies, biologicals, soil health and artificial intelligence applications.
“A lot of these will not be something that gets tested one year and gets released, especially like biologicals. That’ll take us two, three years,” he says.
Ruppert adds this program is in its early stages, but it’s helpful for farmers to be aware of it and get involved. “Ask your local FS people and crop specialists about the testing they’re doing. We’re doing precommercial, higher-level testing to make these products viable as a commercial product.”
As products are researched on farms, Ruppert and his team will be asking practical questions. What matters to that grower? What is he or she seeking?
“In the end, this is about creating more wins for the farmer,” Ruppert says. “The more we learn about a technology, the more data we have, and the better decisions we can all make.”