What is artificial intelligence, and how can it benefit growers? To answer this question, brand new guest Taylor Wetli joins hosts Sal Sama and Jeff Jarrett in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Taylor is the US Commercial and Business Development Manager for Solinftec, a company that specializes in AI and SaaS (software as a service) for agribusiness.

In addition to sharing about growing up on a farm and how he ended up in ag technology, Taylor will share a bit about Solinftec and what it’s like to work for a cutting-edge company that’s working closely with growers and ag retailers. You’ll learn how the robot can not just help make applications in the field, but how it can also help understand issues that exist in the field and make informed decisions regarding how to move forward. You’ll learn how the technology has evolved over the last couple of years and what possibilities may exist in the future. “This is leading edge technology, and we want to be part of it for our customers.”

We’ve got a dignitary visiting us! That might be a bit of a stretch, but not by much! Special guest, Bruce Kettler, joins hosts Jeff Jarrett and Sal Sama on this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Bruce is the CEO and President of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.

In addition to learning about his background in agronomy and agriculture, you’ll hear how he ended up in the Department of Agriculture and ultimately the Agribusiness Council of Indiana. Bruce will explain how the ag retail industry has the same concerns as the growers, what’s been done in 2024, and what’s top of mind for the Agribusiness Council as we head into 2025. You’ll learn how the council has worked in education around pesticides and how they’ve weighed in on the legislature in Indiana. From the opportunity to learn about the Emerging Professionals Leadership Program and land usage with the LEAP District to how the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) can assess the trade offs for moving farm land to solar farms or warehouses, this episode packs a punch. “A farm is a business… That farmland is not just waiting to be developed!”

What is the TRAX program, and how can that help growers? Your hosts, Jeff and Sal, are joined in the podcast room by Joe Zimmerman and Glenn Longabaugh for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Joe is the TRAX Agronomy Lead, and Glenn is a frequent guest and the Agronomist for Premier Companies.

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about Glenn and Joe’s background, education, and career history. You’ll learn about the soil sampling process, the nutrients that are tested, and how the results are analyzed. They’ll also share how the system knows where each sample came from, how that informs the nutrient applications, and how the CropLink platform can provide data from current and previous years to help growers maximize their yield. When it comes to utilizing TRAX and Croplink to make sure growers are planting and fertilizing in the appropriate amounts and locations, perhaps Glenn says it best. “If Joe had more hair, they’d call him Goldilocks. They don’t put on too much, they don’t put on too little, it’s just right.”