Farming Entrepreneurs.

Farmers and ranchers today have access to new agriculture technologies that were once simply a sci-fi dream-drones soaring across corn fields, genetically modified crops growing with fewer pesticides and real-time soil monitoring. Technology and innovation are the future of farming and the American Farm Bureau Federation is working to help rural entrepreneurs pave the way. 

The 2017 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge, now in its second year, provides opportunities for individuals to showcase business innovations being developed in rural regions of the U.S. This year, four of the top 10 finalists are working to develop new ag technologies. "It's exciting to see so many ag technologies advancing in the competition," said Lisa Benson, AFBF's director of rural development. "Through the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge we hope to address competitors' startup concerns and encourage a spirit of innovation in the years to come." I talked with Idaho Farm Bureau reporter Jake Putnam: "I'm wondering if to be a farmer in today's technical world you should go to college for engineering? We are living in the Golden age right now. We have never seen so many technological explosions. Everything from biotech to drones to you name it. They probably need more than just an engineering degree, they may need a business degree as well. It's amazing all the stuff that's going on. With that in mind, the American Farm Bureau Federation has been working on a way to help these entrepreneurs pave the way to whatever is next. This program gives the guys a chance to showcase their business innovations. We have guys right here in Idaho that have been on the cutting edge of this for years and now they are really starting to see the light."