Farm4Profit Podcast

After touring the Hagie Manufacturing facility in Clarion, Iowa, Corey Hillebo and his father, Scott Hillebo, reflect on their family's long history with Hagie sprayers and how technology has transformed their farming operation.

Scott shares the story of purchasing his first Hagie STS10 in 2009, using a detasseling cutter to help justify the investment, and eventually progressing through multiple Hagie models as the farm's needs evolved. The conversation highlights how the farm transitioned from using a sprayer primarily for crop protection to utilizing it as a critical management tool for fertility, nitrogen applications, fungicides, foliar feeding, and late-season crop management.

The father-son duo discusses:

Scott's history owning three Hagie sprayers

How detasseling helped support the original investment

The evolution from early STS models to today's technology-packed machines

ExactApply and its impact on application accuracy and efficiency

First impressions of John Deere's See & Spray technology

Why timing matters more than ever in modern crop production

Using Y-Drops and spoon-feeding nitrogen

Fungicide and foliar application opportunities later in the growing season

How a high-clearance sprayer influences agronomic decision-making

The benefits of controlling application timing in-house

What stood out most during the Hagie factory tour

The unique culture of Hagie Manufacturing and its continued focus on craftsmanship

The partnership between Hagie and John Deere

The future of precision spraying technology

This episode offers a real-world farmer perspective on how equipment investments can influence management decisions, improve efficiency, and create opportunities to capture additional yield through better timing and precision.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
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Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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Joining the show are Raymond Chung, founder and CEO of AcreHedge, Chief Technology Officer Todd Larson, and Chief Media Officer (and returning guest) Zoe Kent. Together they explain how prediction markets work, why they're gaining popularity, and how they could eventually become another valuable tool alongside crop insurance and traditional marketing strategies.

Ray shares how his background on Wall Street combined with years operating one of the nation's largest edamame processing businesses led him to create AcreHedge. Todd explains how modern AI accelerated development of the platform while maintaining enterprise-level quality, and Zoe discusses using her own farming operation as the first public market on AcreHedge.

The discussion covers:

What prediction markets actually are—and what they are not

How "wisdom of the crowd" often produces remarkably accurate forecasts

Why prediction markets differ from sports betting or casino gambling

Filling risk management gaps left by traditional crop insurance

Weather, disease, commodity price, acreage, and yield-related markets

Real-world examples using New World Screwworm, corn prices, and USDA acreage reports

How farmers can use markets to express opinions while managing financial risk

AI's growing role in agriculture and software development

Why agriculture deserves specialized prediction markets built by people who understand farming

The group also has plenty of fun discussing edamame, Skittles, weather forecasting, rock picking, farm influencers, and brainstorming future prediction markets that could keep both farmers and agriculture enthusiasts engaged.

Whether you're interested in grain marketing, crop insurance, technology, finance, or simply enjoy learning about innovative ideas shaping agriculture, this episode offers an early look at what could become an entirely new category of farm risk management.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!
https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Farm4Fun episode, Zach Hefty and multi-time Farm4Profit favorite Tony Reed return to the show to preview the upcoming Ag PhD Field Day while sharing honest updates on one of the most challenging growing seasons many farmers have experienced.

The conversation begins with spring planting struggles, including Tony's incredible 15-plus inches of rainfall, multiple rounds of replanting, and fields ranging from freshly planted corn to chest-high corn—all within the same operation. Meanwhile, Zach discusses the opposite challenge in South Dakota: dry conditions and hoping for timely rains before Field Day.

The discussion then shifts to Ag PhD Field Day and what has made it one of agriculture's biggest educational experiences.

Topics include:

Why Ag PhD Field Day is completely free to attend

Research plots showcasing the latest agronomic practices

Hands-on demonstrations with new equipment and technology

High-yield farmer presentations from across North America

"Crazy Trials" that test unconventional farming ideas

Opportunities to interact with leading agricultural content creators

Product demonstrations and ride-and-drive experiences

Why education—not sales—is the focus of the event

The logistics behind feeding more than 10,000 attendees

Building an event that combines education, networking, and entertainment

The episode also includes plenty of laughs as the crew discusses anniversary gifts, old farm trucks, Cameo videos, Beater with a Heater, weather forecasting, and Tony Reed's legendary podcast appearances.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!
https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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In this What's Working in Ag segment, Tanner and Mikaya Spires from Spray Drone Network join Farm4Profit to explain how their platform is helping connect growers with qualified, licensed drone applicators across the country. What started as a simple question—"How do I find a reliable spray drone operator?"—has quickly grown into a nationwide network serving farmers, applicators, dealers, and industry professionals.

The discussion covers:

How Spray Drone Network was created

The rapid growth of spray drone applications across agriculture

Why licensing and professionalism matter

What farmers should ask before hiring a drone applicator

The difference between being a drone pilot and being a professional applicator

Finding qualified operators by location and application type

Cover crops, fungicides, herbicides, specialty crops, and more

The business side of running a drone application operation

New opportunities for young entrepreneurs entering agriculture

Education, training, and community-building within the drone industry

The role of technology, software, and logistics in successful drone operations

Tanner and Mikaya also discuss the challenges facing new operators, including equipment setup, application knowledge, chemical handling, business management, and customer expectations. Their mission is simple: help grow the spray drone industry while ensuring farmers have access to trustworthy and qualified operators.

Whether you're a farmer looking for aerial application options, a custom applicator considering drones, or someone curious about the future of precision agriculture, this episode provides an inside look at one of the fastest-growing segments in ag technology.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!
https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

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The conversation explores the often-unseen world of product testing, field validation, software development, and farmer feedback that goes into launching new technology. Jared shares his unique role as a product tester, explaining how Ag Leader evaluates new products before they ever reach a customer's farm and how real-world farmer feedback helps shape final product decisions.

The group discusses:

What ZRow is and how it improves corn head guidance during harvest

Why row guidance still matters in a world of RTK and precision GPS

How Ag Leader integrates with existing row sensing systems

The product testing process from concept to commercial launch

Ag Leader's internal "hackathon" innovation program

Common challenges encountered during product development

How farmer cooperators help validate new technology

The evolution of precision agriculture since Ag Leader's yield monitor origins

Why user interface and simplicity matter just as much as technology

The importance of data collection and data utilization

How AgFiniti connectivity is changing support and decision-making

The future of autonomy, machine guidance, and precision farming

Why today's successful producers must embrace innovation and continuous improvement

Beyond the technology discussion, the episode delivers a bigger message about modern agriculture: farms can no longer rely on "the way we've always done it." As margins tighten and operations become more complex, the producers who effectively leverage data, technology, and decision-making tools will be best positioned for long-term success.

Whether you're a technology enthusiast, an early adopter, or simply curious about how new precision ag tools are developed, this episode offers a fascinating look behind the scenes at one of agriculture's most influential technology companies.

Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!
https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!

Website: www.Farm4Profit.com
Shareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com
Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com
Call/Text: 515.207.9640
Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc
Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/
Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.