Podcast Short: BioCoat Gold and the Future of Risk-Sharing in Ag
In this Podcast Short, John discusses how shifting from extractive to collaborative business models can help farmers reclaim their economic destiny. This episode also explores:
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Historical farm economics, noting that while it was once common to pay for a farm in under ten years,
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How "regenerative relationships" and shared risk-taking between vendors and growers are essential to restoring farm profitability.
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A new performance warranty for BioCoat Gold is introduced as a way to remove financial risk for growers
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Inviting large-scale operators to engage in broader risk-sharing partnerships that extend beyond single products to entire agricultural systems.
Additional Resources To learn more about AEA's new BioCoat Gold warrant, please visit: https://advancingecoag.com/land/warranty-biocoat-gold/
About John Kempf John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA). A top expert in biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who grow it.
Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition – a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
Support For This Show & Helping You Grow Since 2006, AEA has been on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable with regenerative agriculture.
AEA works directly with growers to apply its unique line of liquid mineral crop nutrition products and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting-edge plant and soil data-gathering techniques, AEA's science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.
AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with its products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.
Beyond working on the ground with growers, AEA leads in regenerative agriculture media and education, producing and distributing the popular and highly-regarded Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, inspiring webinars, and other educational content that serve as go-to resources for growers worldwide.
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1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:02,480 Hi friends, this is John. 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:03,899 Welcome back to the Regenerative 3 00:00:03,899 --> 00:00:04,799 Agriculture podcast. 4 00:00:06,099 --> 00:00:07,120 Today, I want to have a 5 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,320 conversation about farm 6 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,449 economics and relationships 7 00:00:11,449 --> 00:00:13,029 between farmers and vendors 8 00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:15,779 and some of the work that we are 9 00:00:15,779 --> 00:00:18,190 doing with BioCoat Golden Pinion 10 00:00:18,190 --> 00:00:19,449 to address some of these 11 00:00:19,449 --> 00:00:20,250 challenges. 12 00:00:20,429 --> 00:00:21,769 We live in interesting times. 13 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,039 We see that particularly here in 14 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:26,339 North America, but also around 15 00:00:26,339 --> 00:00:27,140 the world. 16 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:28,719 Many growers, depending on the 17 00:00:28,719 --> 00:00:29,539 crops they're growing and the 18 00:00:29,539 --> 00:00:30,519 situation they're in, many 19 00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:31,320 growers 20 00:00:31,449 --> 00:00:33,469 are in a very difficult economic 21 00:00:33,469 --> 00:00:34,269 context. 22 00:00:35,229 --> 00:00:36,029 And 23 00:00:36,619 --> 00:00:39,619 I've always been fascinated by 24 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:41,659 trying to understand how did we 25 00:00:41,659 --> 00:00:43,159 get to this spot? 26 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:44,679 How did we arrive at this place? 27 00:00:45,570 --> 00:00:46,530 And there are many different 28 00:00:46,530 --> 00:00:47,329 contributing factors. 29 00:00:47,469 --> 00:00:48,409 I've been speaking about this 30 00:00:48,409 --> 00:00:50,670 topic quite a bit this winter. 31 00:00:51,250 --> 00:00:52,450 at conferences when I've been 32 00:00:52,450 --> 00:00:53,409 asked to talk about farm 33 00:00:53,409 --> 00:00:55,189 economics, conversation with 34 00:00:55,189 --> 00:00:56,310 myself and Michael McNeil. 35 00:00:56,369 --> 00:00:57,169 Actually, I think we might have 36 00:00:57,130 --> 00:00:58,090 ended up sharing it here on the 37 00:00:58,090 --> 00:00:58,890 podcast. 38 00:00:58,929 --> 00:01:00,609 I try to understand how did we 39 00:01:00,609 --> 00:01:02,289 get to where we are? 40 00:01:02,590 --> 00:01:04,189 And there are many different 41 00:01:04,189 --> 00:01:05,209 contributing factors. 42 00:01:06,329 --> 00:01:08,810 There's a combination of reasons 43 00:01:08,810 --> 00:01:10,650 for why we've arrived at this 44 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:11,450 spot 45 00:01:11,519 --> 00:01:14,579 of farmers being so heavily 46 00:01:14,579 --> 00:01:15,680 extracted from 47 00:01:15,989 --> 00:01:18,170 and to some degree, 48 00:01:19,409 --> 00:01:20,870 not being in control of their 49 00:01:20,870 --> 00:01:22,189 own destiny as long as they 50 00:01:22,189 --> 00:01:24,879 choose to continue with the 51 00:01:24,879 --> 00:01:26,260 status quo of production 52 00:01:26,260 --> 00:01:28,700 practices and crops that are 53 00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:29,500 common. 54 00:01:30,430 --> 00:01:32,209 And I found it interesting when 55 00:01:32,209 --> 00:01:34,329 I'm going back in history you 56 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:35,620 look at some of the historical 57 00:01:35,620 --> 00:01:38,469 data and just this is some very 58 00:01:38,469 --> 00:01:39,870 broad brushstrokes because 59 00:01:39,870 --> 00:01:40,790 there's lots of variation 60 00:01:40,790 --> 00:01:42,609 depending on where you are in 61 00:01:42,609 --> 00:01:43,870 North America and the crops that 62 00:01:43,870 --> 00:01:45,590 you're producing and there's a 63 00:01:45,590 --> 00:01:46,629 lot of context but 64 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:48,980 Very broadly, through the late 65 00:01:48,980 --> 00:01:52,359 1940s, 50s, 60s, even into the 66 00:01:52,359 --> 00:01:53,439 early 1970s, 67 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,540 it was possible for many farmers 68 00:01:56,540 --> 00:01:57,340 to 69 00:01:57,620 --> 00:02:00,260 pay for a farm in $5 .00. 70 00:02:00,299 --> 00:02:01,099 years. 71 00:02:01,510 --> 00:02:03,620 My grandfather served during the 72 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:04,560 Second World War as a 73 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,060 conscientious objector in the 74 00:02:06,060 --> 00:02:06,879 CPS camps, 75 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:09,300 and he came home from the war, 76 00:02:09,439 --> 00:02:10,240 got married, 77 00:02:11,050 --> 00:02:11,889 purchased a farm, 78 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:13,759 and he paid for that farm in 79 00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:14,560 four years. 80 00:02:15,090 --> 00:02:16,590 And I've heard many stories like 81 00:02:16,590 --> 00:02:17,849 that, of farmers in that era 82 00:02:17,849 --> 00:02:20,569 paying for farms in a four to a 83 00:02:20,569 --> 00:02:21,509 10 -year time frame. 84 00:02:23,469 --> 00:02:24,949 you look back in that era and 85 00:02:24,949 --> 00:02:26,829 you ask what happened and how do 86 00:02:26,829 --> 00:02:28,329 we get from that place to the 87 00:02:28,329 --> 00:02:29,270 place that we are today? 88 00:02:29,370 --> 00:02:30,670 Well, the answer is many things 89 00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:32,849 happened and it's beyond the 90 00:02:32,849 --> 00:02:34,009 scope of what I want to get 91 00:02:34,009 --> 00:02:35,170 into. This could perhaps be a 92 00:02:35,170 --> 00:02:36,389 separate conversation at some 93 00:02:36,389 --> 00:02:37,189 point of 94 00:02:37,199 --> 00:02:38,740 all the various contributing 95 00:02:38,740 --> 00:02:40,319 factors that contributed to 96 00:02:40,319 --> 00:02:42,120 ranging all the way from cheap 97 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,969 food policy to monopolization 98 00:02:44,969 --> 00:02:47,979 of energy and inputs and 99 00:02:47,979 --> 00:02:49,360 on and on the list goes. 100 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:50,879 There's a regulatory 101 00:02:51,759 --> 00:02:52,960 growth of regulatory factors. 102 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:54,079 There's a number of contributing 103 00:02:54,079 --> 00:02:54,879 factors. 104 00:02:56,219 --> 00:02:57,020 But I 105 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:00,139 find this intriguing, the 106 00:03:00,139 --> 00:03:01,540 question, the challenge that I 107 00:03:01,540 --> 00:03:02,959 would ask people to think about. 108 00:03:03,620 --> 00:03:04,740 There's this question that Peter 109 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:05,540 Thiel asks 110 00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:07,599 when presented with a business 111 00:03:07,599 --> 00:03:08,659 plan or business proposal. 112 00:03:09,819 --> 00:03:11,439 When we put together these long 113 00:03:11,439 --> 00:03:12,639 -range plans or long -range 114 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:13,439 visions 115 00:03:13,659 --> 00:03:15,259 of, let's say you have a 10 116 00:03:15,259 --> 00:03:16,060 -year plan, 117 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,139 how would you accomplish your 10 118 00:03:18,139 --> 00:03:19,800 -year goal in six months? 119 00:03:21,340 --> 00:03:22,480 And the reason for asking the 120 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,829 question in that way is because 121 00:03:24,829 --> 00:03:26,889 it forces a change of thinking. 122 00:03:27,659 --> 00:03:29,439 You cannot achieve a 10 -year 123 00:03:29,439 --> 00:03:31,939 goal in six months by doing the 124 00:03:31,939 --> 00:03:33,699 same thing faster or by doing 125 00:03:33,699 --> 00:03:34,540 the same thing better. 126 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:35,740 It requires doing something 127 00:03:35,740 --> 00:03:36,540 different. 128 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,280 And the question that I've been 129 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:41,659 challenging growers to think 130 00:03:41,659 --> 00:03:42,460 about, 131 00:03:42,980 --> 00:03:44,879 if you had to pay for your farm 132 00:03:44,879 --> 00:03:46,759 in four years, how will you do 133 00:03:46,759 --> 00:03:47,560 it? 134 00:03:48,379 --> 00:03:49,459 And because I know, 135 00:03:49,959 --> 00:03:51,459 I personally know many farmers 136 00:03:51,459 --> 00:03:52,980 who are producing revenue 137 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:54,560 and profitability, 138 00:03:55,270 --> 00:03:56,969 of paying for a farm in four 139 00:03:56,969 --> 00:03:57,770 years, 140 00:03:57,789 --> 00:03:58,590 smaller scale, 141 00:03:59,180 --> 00:04:00,460 not on a scale of thousands of 142 00:04:00,460 --> 00:04:01,260 acres. 143 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:02,700 But there's, 144 00:04:02,979 --> 00:04:04,620 I just recently had an exchange 145 00:04:04,620 --> 00:04:06,460 with a customer of ours who is 146 00:04:06,740 --> 00:04:09,439 growing in North Carolina on 147 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:10,560 three acres and 148 00:04:10,870 --> 00:04:12,770 generating a net revenue, a net 149 00:04:12,770 --> 00:04:15,449 profit after paying themselves 150 00:04:15,449 --> 00:04:16,250 of 151 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:18,199 $180 ,000 on three acres. 152 00:04:19,629 --> 00:04:20,430 Well, 153 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,500 That happens to be quite a bit 154 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:24,519 more than many growers who are 155 00:04:24,899 --> 00:04:26,659 farming thousands of acres that 156 00:04:26,659 --> 00:04:28,319 we know and that we work with. 157 00:04:29,149 --> 00:04:31,069 And so there is, I think we have 158 00:04:31,069 --> 00:04:31,870 to, 159 00:04:32,250 --> 00:04:34,389 we have to start asking this 160 00:04:34,389 --> 00:04:35,529 question from a very fresh 161 00:04:35,529 --> 00:04:37,590 perspective and recognizing that 162 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,540 if profitability is the 163 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:40,879 objective, then the farming of 164 00:04:40,879 --> 00:04:41,920 the future might look very 165 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,079 different from the farming of 166 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:43,879 today. 167 00:04:43,980 --> 00:04:45,220 And I would suggest not just 168 00:04:45,220 --> 00:04:46,980 that it might, but that it needs 169 00:04:46,980 --> 00:04:47,780 to. 170 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,459 Anyway, as a part of all this, 171 00:04:51,110 --> 00:04:52,490 one of the significant factors 172 00:04:52,490 --> 00:04:53,670 that has also changed 173 00:04:54,629 --> 00:04:56,090 is the nature of 174 00:04:56,529 --> 00:04:58,250 business relationships that 175 00:04:58,250 --> 00:04:59,389 farmers engage with. 176 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:01,280 And I, 177 00:05:01,590 --> 00:05:02,509 of course, have the unique 178 00:05:02,889 --> 00:05:05,370 context of having grown up in an 179 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:06,170 Amish community 180 00:05:06,470 --> 00:05:08,670 and having had 181 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:10,879 the opportunity to observe 182 00:05:11,159 --> 00:05:13,579 business interactions in 183 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:16,810 a group where community still 184 00:05:16,810 --> 00:05:18,370 actually meant something and 185 00:05:18,620 --> 00:05:20,220 relationships weren't 186 00:05:20,529 --> 00:05:22,490 optimized for optimal extraction 187 00:05:22,490 --> 00:05:23,550 amongst the members of the 188 00:05:23,550 --> 00:05:24,350 community. 189 00:05:25,939 --> 00:05:27,279 One of the pieces that I've 190 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,040 described occasionally is that 191 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:29,840 regeneration 192 00:05:31,079 --> 00:05:32,180 When you look at regeneration 193 00:05:32,180 --> 00:05:34,199 from its most fundamental 194 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:35,740 foundational 195 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:37,800 aspects, 196 00:05:39,459 --> 00:05:42,240 the verb of regeneration implies 197 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,879 that you are regenerating 198 00:05:44,879 --> 00:05:46,939 something from a degraded state 199 00:05:46,939 --> 00:05:48,379 to a more optimal state. 200 00:05:49,779 --> 00:05:50,600 So what 201 00:05:50,980 --> 00:05:52,360 do those two states look like? 202 00:05:52,439 --> 00:05:54,060 What does a degraded state look 203 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:55,779 like? And what does a more 204 00:05:55,779 --> 00:05:56,579 optimized 205 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,920 state of relationships look 206 00:05:58,920 --> 00:05:59,720 like? 207 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:00,920 And I 208 00:06:01,910 --> 00:06:03,949 would suggest that degraded 209 00:06:03,949 --> 00:06:05,230 relationships are 210 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,180 relationships that are 211 00:06:07,180 --> 00:06:07,980 competitive, 212 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:10,660 that are extractive, 213 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:12,899 that are self -serving, 214 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:14,480 where 215 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,800 each party to the relationship 216 00:06:17,439 --> 00:06:19,319 tries their very best to the 217 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:20,959 means of their ability and their 218 00:06:20,959 --> 00:06:22,800 power and their influence to 219 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:24,659 optimize that relationship for 220 00:06:24,659 --> 00:06:25,459 their own benefit. 221 00:06:26,310 --> 00:06:27,889 So when you have this self 222 00:06:27,889 --> 00:06:29,269 -serving extractive 223 00:06:29,269 --> 00:06:30,069 relationship, 224 00:06:30,639 --> 00:06:32,480 this competitive relationship, 225 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:34,040 this zero 226 00:06:35,790 --> 00:06:36,590 -sum game, 227 00:06:38,409 --> 00:06:39,209 you have 228 00:06:39,340 --> 00:06:40,279 inherently, 229 00:06:41,740 --> 00:06:43,220 in the words that I've already 230 00:06:43,220 --> 00:06:44,399 used, you have inherent 231 00:06:44,399 --> 00:06:45,819 selfishness, you have 232 00:06:45,819 --> 00:06:46,620 competitiveness, 233 00:06:47,340 --> 00:06:49,439 and you have the destruction of 234 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:50,240 community. 235 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:51,340 When that happens, you have the 236 00:06:51,340 --> 00:06:52,480 destruction of relationships. 237 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:56,220 So that is a degraded state of 238 00:06:56,220 --> 00:06:57,540 relationships. And this is this 239 00:06:57,540 --> 00:06:59,120 can be relationships between 240 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,000 soil microbes, between soil 241 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,720 microbes and plants, between 242 00:07:03,069 --> 00:07:04,649 landscape 243 00:07:05,699 --> 00:07:07,399 ecosystems and livestock. 244 00:07:08,740 --> 00:07:10,360 Many, many different trophic 245 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:11,699 levels that we can look at 246 00:07:11,699 --> 00:07:13,079 relationships and 247 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:14,939 including in this case, what I'm 248 00:07:14,939 --> 00:07:16,220 referring to particularly is 249 00:07:16,220 --> 00:07:17,920 relationships between growers 250 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:18,740 and 251 00:07:19,180 --> 00:07:20,500 the human community or the 252 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:21,540 organizational community that 253 00:07:21,540 --> 00:07:22,459 they are surrounded by. 254 00:07:22,659 --> 00:07:23,540 There are vendors that they're 255 00:07:23,540 --> 00:07:24,340 purchasing from 256 00:07:24,860 --> 00:07:25,660 and 257 00:07:25,959 --> 00:07:26,779 the 258 00:07:28,420 --> 00:07:29,560 the people that they are 259 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:30,819 supplying, the people who are 260 00:07:30,819 --> 00:07:32,300 buying their product from them. 261 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:34,420 So when you think about 262 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:35,680 regenerating relationships from 263 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,019 a degraded state, what does an 264 00:07:37,019 --> 00:07:38,319 optimized state look like? 265 00:07:39,350 --> 00:07:41,470 And when we look at biological 266 00:07:41,470 --> 00:07:44,060 systems and optimal ecosystem 267 00:07:44,060 --> 00:07:44,860 function, 268 00:07:45,899 --> 00:07:47,459 healthy relationships are 269 00:07:47,459 --> 00:07:48,459 relationships that are 270 00:07:48,459 --> 00:07:49,259 collaborative. 271 00:07:50,199 --> 00:07:51,639 They are symbiotic. 272 00:07:52,459 --> 00:07:54,800 They are serving the community 273 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:55,600 rather 274 00:07:55,790 --> 00:07:56,970 than just serving self. 275 00:07:57,970 --> 00:07:59,730 And you can continue this 276 00:07:59,730 --> 00:08:00,829 thought process and you can come 277 00:08:00,829 --> 00:08:01,769 up with many other 278 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,120 adjectives or 279 00:08:04,689 --> 00:08:06,569 descriptions of what 280 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,220 a regenerated relationship state 281 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:11,860 might look like and does look 282 00:08:11,860 --> 00:08:13,259 like in biological systems. 283 00:08:15,829 --> 00:08:18,750 How do we create those types of 284 00:08:19,350 --> 00:08:21,149 relationships between 285 00:08:21,529 --> 00:08:23,949 our organizations and between us 286 00:08:23,949 --> 00:08:25,550 in a business context? 287 00:08:26,620 --> 00:08:27,659 This is something that I've 288 00:08:27,909 --> 00:08:28,949 thought about 289 00:08:29,610 --> 00:08:31,009 of how do we 290 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:34,620 build this into our architecture 291 00:08:34,620 --> 00:08:36,460 and into our very DNA as a 292 00:08:36,460 --> 00:08:38,059 company at Advancing Equal 293 00:08:38,059 --> 00:08:38,859 Agriculture. 294 00:08:39,850 --> 00:08:40,970 We want to be 295 00:08:41,370 --> 00:08:44,190 a company that not just does 296 00:08:44,190 --> 00:08:44,990 regeneration, 297 00:08:45,809 --> 00:08:47,330 but a company that is inherently 298 00:08:47,330 --> 00:08:49,069 regenerative in the way that it 299 00:08:49,069 --> 00:08:49,869 interacts 300 00:08:50,169 --> 00:08:51,669 with employees, 301 00:08:52,169 --> 00:08:53,850 with customers, with vendors, 302 00:08:54,169 --> 00:08:55,090 and in the business landscape. 303 00:08:55,330 --> 00:08:56,129 So what 304 00:08:56,639 --> 00:08:57,759 does that look like exactly? 305 00:08:58,779 --> 00:09:00,379 This was one of the inspirations 306 00:09:01,069 --> 00:09:01,869 for 307 00:09:02,769 --> 00:09:05,269 the community fundraising round 308 00:09:05,269 --> 00:09:06,430 that we launched a couple of 309 00:09:06,430 --> 00:09:07,230 years ago 310 00:09:08,029 --> 00:09:10,029 because I wanted there to be an 311 00:09:10,029 --> 00:09:12,230 opportunity and a pathway for 312 00:09:12,230 --> 00:09:13,529 our customers and the growers 313 00:09:13,529 --> 00:09:14,590 that we were working with and 314 00:09:14,590 --> 00:09:16,690 our fans and supporters to 315 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,500 engage with the 316 00:09:18,850 --> 00:09:19,649 company 317 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:20,539 in 318 00:09:21,110 --> 00:09:22,569 and be a part of the overall 319 00:09:22,569 --> 00:09:24,330 company's success, so that there 320 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:26,029 is this true symbiosis and this 321 00:09:26,029 --> 00:09:27,110 collaboration where everyone 322 00:09:27,110 --> 00:09:27,909 wins. 323 00:09:29,069 --> 00:09:29,889 And I've 324 00:09:30,330 --> 00:09:31,930 continued to think about how 325 00:09:32,659 --> 00:09:34,399 we might expand this more 326 00:09:34,399 --> 00:09:35,199 broadly. 327 00:09:35,139 --> 00:09:37,039 And particularly in the current 328 00:09:37,039 --> 00:09:37,860 business environment, 329 00:09:39,220 --> 00:09:40,100 this is something that appears 330 00:09:40,100 --> 00:09:41,039 to be for years. 331 00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:44,539 But how do we as a company, how 332 00:09:44,539 --> 00:09:45,899 do we participate in the risk 333 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,240 that a grower takes on when 334 00:09:49,419 --> 00:09:50,600 starting to use 335 00:09:50,950 --> 00:09:52,350 advancing eco -agriculture 336 00:09:52,350 --> 00:09:53,549 products or starting to use our 337 00:09:53,549 --> 00:09:54,349 consulting services? 338 00:09:55,019 --> 00:09:56,059 How do we participate in the 339 00:09:56,059 --> 00:09:56,859 risk? 340 00:09:57,419 --> 00:09:58,219 And then 341 00:09:58,549 --> 00:09:59,349 ultimately, 342 00:09:59,629 --> 00:10:01,470 what a relationship should 343 00:10:01,470 --> 00:10:02,269 really look like 344 00:10:02,649 --> 00:10:03,449 is, 345 00:10:03,629 --> 00:10:05,649 can we participate in the risk 346 00:10:05,649 --> 00:10:06,449 of 347 00:10:06,919 --> 00:10:09,000 growing a crop to the depth that 348 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:09,799 it also 349 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,039 is justifiable from the grower's 350 00:10:12,039 --> 00:10:13,100 perspective where you have true 351 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:14,159 collaboration that you also then 352 00:10:14,159 --> 00:10:15,360 participate in the reward, you 353 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:16,259 participate in the upside 354 00:10:16,610 --> 00:10:19,330 when your consulting actually 355 00:10:19,330 --> 00:10:20,250 produces results. 356 00:10:20,870 --> 00:10:21,669 But there 357 00:10:22,019 --> 00:10:24,139 is an analysis there that needs 358 00:10:24,139 --> 00:10:24,939 to happen 359 00:10:25,019 --> 00:10:26,519 depending on the specific 360 00:10:26,519 --> 00:10:27,759 context of 361 00:10:28,070 --> 00:10:30,350 what is appropriate risk 362 00:10:30,950 --> 00:10:32,470 participation from 363 00:10:32,940 --> 00:10:34,679 the grower's perspective and the 364 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:35,559 company's perspective. 365 00:10:36,309 --> 00:10:38,029 This is an interesting 366 00:10:38,029 --> 00:10:38,850 conversation, something 367 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:39,649 interesting to think about. 368 00:10:39,809 --> 00:10:40,609 But 369 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,819 the fruition, what has come to 370 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,399 We've had many priorities as a 371 00:10:45,399 --> 00:10:47,680 company over the years and we 372 00:10:48,279 --> 00:10:49,500 have made many exciting 373 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:50,559 advancements here in the last 374 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:51,379 couple of years with 375 00:10:51,860 --> 00:10:53,620 our investments in 376 00:10:54,180 --> 00:10:56,059 crop ticks and infield sensors 377 00:10:56,059 --> 00:10:57,500 and FieldLark 378 00:10:57,850 --> 00:10:59,649 and internal technology that we 379 00:10:59,649 --> 00:11:00,449 have been developing. 380 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,720 One of the things that has just 381 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,319 recently come to the top of the 382 00:11:05,319 --> 00:11:06,119 list 383 00:11:06,029 --> 00:11:08,409 that we're now able to launch 384 00:11:08,409 --> 00:11:09,209 and to talk about 385 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,220 is how we as a company are 386 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:14,799 able to participate in the risk 387 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,580 with the grower in in one 388 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:18,500 particular product 389 00:11:18,879 --> 00:11:22,039 and my my aspiration is 390 00:11:22,569 --> 00:11:24,430 to eventually broaden this and 391 00:11:24,430 --> 00:11:26,090 it's it's complicated it's 392 00:11:26,090 --> 00:11:27,389 nuanced of course but figuring 393 00:11:27,389 --> 00:11:28,189 out 394 00:11:28,370 --> 00:11:29,990 how can we participate in the 395 00:11:29,990 --> 00:11:31,450 risk with a 396 00:11:31,799 --> 00:11:33,399 grower in implementing a full 397 00:11:33,399 --> 00:11:34,700 program a full 398 00:11:35,399 --> 00:11:36,199 change 399 00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:38,100 of changing from one type of 400 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:39,399 nutrition management system to a 401 00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:40,199 different type of nutrition 402 00:11:40,179 --> 00:11:41,000 management system. 403 00:11:41,919 --> 00:11:45,000 And it's challenging to model 404 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,600 that out and put that together 405 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,740 well just because there is so 406 00:11:48,740 --> 00:11:50,200 much nuance and so there's so 407 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:51,340 many different details that 408 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:53,389 you almost have to put something 409 00:11:53,389 --> 00:11:54,409 together on a case -by -case 410 00:11:54,409 --> 00:11:55,209 basis. 411 00:11:56,210 --> 00:11:58,289 But what has emerged out of this 412 00:11:58,570 --> 00:12:01,590 is the opportunity for us to 413 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:03,559 participate in the risk and 414 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:04,980 essentially remove all the risk 415 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:07,700 for growers using BioCoat Gold. 416 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:09,840 A couple of weeks ago, 417 00:12:10,350 --> 00:12:12,529 we announced a partnership with 418 00:12:13,159 --> 00:12:14,139 Growers Edge. 419 00:12:14,919 --> 00:12:16,519 Growers Edge is partnering with 420 00:12:16,519 --> 00:12:18,100 us in the administration and 421 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:19,919 the underwriting process of 422 00:12:19,919 --> 00:12:20,719 putting together 423 00:12:21,059 --> 00:12:24,379 a performance warranty for 424 00:12:24,379 --> 00:12:25,320 BioCoat Gold. 425 00:12:26,259 --> 00:12:28,360 So with BioCoat Gold, we now 426 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:29,159 have, 427 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:30,659 for those of you not familiar 428 00:12:30,659 --> 00:12:32,139 with BioCoat Gold, BioCoat Gold 429 00:12:32,139 --> 00:12:33,519 is a microbial 430 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,580 inoculant seed treatment that 431 00:12:36,580 --> 00:12:37,379 combines 432 00:12:37,860 --> 00:12:38,759 mycorrhizal fungi. 433 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:40,899 It also includes various 434 00:12:40,899 --> 00:12:43,210 bacterial inoculants that have a 435 00:12:43,210 --> 00:12:44,230 symbiotic relationship with 436 00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:45,610 mycorrhizal fungi as well as 437 00:12:45,610 --> 00:12:47,210 with plants directly. 438 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:49,419 And it also includes a number of 439 00:12:49,419 --> 00:12:51,539 different biostimulants to just 440 00:12:51,539 --> 00:12:52,980 stimulate overall plant 441 00:12:52,980 --> 00:12:53,779 development 442 00:12:53,970 --> 00:12:56,269 and microbial development as 443 00:12:56,269 --> 00:12:57,069 well. 444 00:12:58,490 --> 00:13:00,069 We now have about a decade of 445 00:13:00,069 --> 00:13:01,850 experience with BioCoat Gold and 446 00:13:02,580 --> 00:13:03,379 it is 447 00:13:03,309 --> 00:13:05,889 a very consistent performer. 448 00:13:06,090 --> 00:13:07,049 It's been such a consistent 449 00:13:07,049 --> 00:13:08,029 performer in 450 00:13:08,379 --> 00:13:09,340 all these different types of 451 00:13:09,340 --> 00:13:10,460 environments and ecosystems we 452 00:13:10,460 --> 00:13:11,840 put it to. We can put it into 453 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:14,620 very dry land environments, very 454 00:13:14,620 --> 00:13:15,779 stressed environments from 455 00:13:16,159 --> 00:13:18,419 high sodium levels or phosphorus 456 00:13:18,419 --> 00:13:19,620 levels. There's all kinds of 457 00:13:19,620 --> 00:13:21,180 different environmental contexts 458 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,059 that BioCoat Gold has been 459 00:13:24,059 --> 00:13:24,859 challenged with. 460 00:13:25,629 --> 00:13:26,549 And it has been such a 461 00:13:26,549 --> 00:13:27,430 consistent performer, 462 00:13:28,460 --> 00:13:30,019 which is a bit of an outlier. 463 00:13:30,330 --> 00:13:31,970 and unusual in the microbial 464 00:13:31,970 --> 00:13:32,830 inoculant space, 465 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:36,460 that we have the confidence to 466 00:13:36,460 --> 00:13:37,279 put together 467 00:13:37,750 --> 00:13:39,629 a performance warranty behind 468 00:13:39,629 --> 00:13:40,529 it. And so 469 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,919 there is, of course, 470 00:13:43,759 --> 00:13:46,320 some fine print in how it needs 471 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:47,580 to be used, how it needs to be 472 00:13:47,580 --> 00:13:48,399 applied properly, 473 00:13:49,039 --> 00:13:51,279 having appropriate checks and 474 00:13:51,279 --> 00:13:53,350 controls so that we can verify 475 00:13:53,350 --> 00:13:54,570 that the product did or did not 476 00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:55,370 perform. 477 00:13:55,799 --> 00:13:57,159 But the short version is that in 478 00:13:57,159 --> 00:13:59,320 conjunction with GrowersEdge, 479 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:01,159 we've released this performance 480 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:02,919 warranty for BioCoat Gold, where 481 00:14:02,919 --> 00:14:05,500 we commit to an ROI performance 482 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:06,299 that 483 00:14:06,659 --> 00:14:08,899 it will at the very least, 484 00:14:09,419 --> 00:14:10,259 it will break even 485 00:14:10,669 --> 00:14:12,870 or you get 100 % refund. 486 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:15,519 So it's and 487 00:14:16,279 --> 00:14:18,399 it is these types of programs. 488 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:19,500 You can find the information. 489 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,080 Our team will include 490 00:14:21,399 --> 00:14:22,820 links to this program in the 491 00:14:22,820 --> 00:14:24,059 show notes. You can also find 492 00:14:24,059 --> 00:14:24,859 them 493 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:25,599 on social media. 494 00:14:25,659 --> 00:14:26,679 You can find the show notes on 495 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:27,919 YouTube. You can also find them 496 00:14:27,919 --> 00:14:29,759 on the Region of Agriculture 497 00:14:29,759 --> 00:14:31,100 podcast website if you're 498 00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:32,259 unfamiliar or uncertain where to 499 00:14:32,259 --> 00:14:33,059 find those. 500 00:14:33,370 --> 00:14:34,690 You can also search for the 501 00:14:34,690 --> 00:14:35,610 information, find it on 502 00:14:35,610 --> 00:14:36,750 Advancing Ecoagriculture's 503 00:14:36,750 --> 00:14:37,549 website. 504 00:14:38,500 --> 00:14:39,299 But this is 505 00:14:39,899 --> 00:14:41,419 actually something that I'm very 506 00:14:41,419 --> 00:14:43,120 excited about because it 507 00:14:44,549 --> 00:14:46,970 is the first time we've been 508 00:14:46,970 --> 00:14:48,069 able to put something together 509 00:14:48,069 --> 00:14:48,869 that 510 00:14:49,149 --> 00:14:50,690 removes all risk for the grower. 511 00:14:51,659 --> 00:14:53,720 This is somewhat of a no -lose 512 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:54,519 scenario. 513 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:56,509 Either it performs or you get a 514 00:14:56,509 --> 00:14:57,309 refund. 515 00:14:57,970 --> 00:14:59,330 It's quite straightforward. 516 00:14:59,970 --> 00:15:00,769 And 517 00:15:01,250 --> 00:15:03,549 The vision that I would have is 518 00:15:03,549 --> 00:15:05,870 for us to figure out 519 00:15:06,409 --> 00:15:08,330 how can we do more of that? 520 00:15:09,149 --> 00:15:10,590 How can we do that with more 521 00:15:10,590 --> 00:15:11,769 products or how can we do that 522 00:15:11,769 --> 00:15:12,789 with an entire system? 523 00:15:13,870 --> 00:15:15,610 So for all of and of course for 524 00:15:15,610 --> 00:15:16,990 us as a company 525 00:15:17,490 --> 00:15:19,549 at Advancing Ecoagriculture, 526 00:15:19,690 --> 00:15:20,490 there is a 527 00:15:20,740 --> 00:15:23,000 minimum threshold from 528 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,039 an administrative perspective 529 00:15:25,039 --> 00:15:25,860 and from an underwriting 530 00:15:25,860 --> 00:15:26,659 perspective 531 00:15:26,929 --> 00:15:30,200 that needs to be met in order 532 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:31,519 to make putting something like 533 00:15:31,519 --> 00:15:32,319 this together. 534 00:15:33,259 --> 00:15:34,440 So the 535 00:15:34,940 --> 00:15:37,259 question and the invitation that 536 00:15:37,259 --> 00:15:38,340 I would have for all of you 537 00:15:38,340 --> 00:15:39,139 listening, 538 00:15:39,879 --> 00:15:42,019 if you have a crop scenario 539 00:15:42,399 --> 00:15:45,379 and you've been listening to the 540 00:15:45,379 --> 00:15:46,360 podcast or you've been working 541 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:47,759 with AEA in some capacity, 542 00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:50,519 if you think that you might be a 543 00:15:50,519 --> 00:15:51,740 possible fit for 544 00:15:52,570 --> 00:15:54,009 for us to collaborate and 545 00:15:54,009 --> 00:15:55,610 develop this type of risk 546 00:15:55,610 --> 00:15:57,389 management scenario on 547 00:15:58,059 --> 00:16:00,659 a broader basis outside of just 548 00:16:00,659 --> 00:16:01,459 Biocode Gold, 549 00:16:02,490 --> 00:16:03,629 I would invite you to reach out 550 00:16:03,629 --> 00:16:05,070 to us. Let's start having a 551 00:16:05,070 --> 00:16:06,509 conversation because I'm very 552 00:16:06,509 --> 00:16:07,669 interested. We'll have to pilot 553 00:16:07,669 --> 00:16:08,529 this. We'll have to kind of 554 00:16:08,529 --> 00:16:09,690 figure it out as we go along. 555 00:16:10,419 --> 00:16:12,120 And we have to, of course, 556 00:16:12,179 --> 00:16:13,659 manage risk on our side as well 557 00:16:13,659 --> 00:16:14,539 as you do as a grower. 558 00:16:15,779 --> 00:16:17,379 But let's work together and 559 00:16:17,379 --> 00:16:18,480 figure it out together if that 560 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:19,440 is something that makes sense 561 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:20,879 for you. And if it doesn't make 562 00:16:20,879 --> 00:16:21,679 sense, then 563 00:16:22,039 --> 00:16:24,659 that's perfectly appropriate as 564 00:16:24,659 --> 00:16:25,459 well. 565 00:16:25,659 --> 00:16:28,059 I think it is figuring out how 566 00:16:28,059 --> 00:16:28,859 we 567 00:16:29,309 --> 00:16:31,110 develop these things together 568 00:16:31,110 --> 00:16:31,909 and 569 00:16:32,819 --> 00:16:35,490 how we truly collaborate and how 570 00:16:35,490 --> 00:16:36,509 we share risk. 571 00:16:37,430 --> 00:16:38,490 That is a 572 00:16:38,809 --> 00:16:39,889 foundational aspect 573 00:16:40,490 --> 00:16:42,549 of how we 574 00:16:42,950 --> 00:16:45,289 have regenerated relationships 575 00:16:45,289 --> 00:16:47,470 and collaborative and symbiotic 576 00:16:47,470 --> 00:16:48,269 relationships 577 00:16:48,370 --> 00:16:50,269 between input companies 578 00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:53,840 and between growers so 579 00:16:54,190 --> 00:16:55,730 that as input companies, 580 00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:58,470 I think there's a shared 581 00:16:58,470 --> 00:16:59,889 sentiment quite broadly and 582 00:16:59,889 --> 00:17:00,689 quite widely 583 00:17:01,129 --> 00:17:01,929 that 584 00:17:02,580 --> 00:17:04,720 Input companies generally are 585 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,019 very extractive of farmers. 586 00:17:08,259 --> 00:17:10,460 The prices of many inputs do 587 00:17:11,190 --> 00:17:13,109 not correspond with the cost of 588 00:17:13,109 --> 00:17:13,909 production. 589 00:17:13,809 --> 00:17:14,809 They do not correspond, 590 00:17:15,890 --> 00:17:17,849 they mostly correspond with the 591 00:17:17,849 --> 00:17:18,649 perceived, 592 00:17:18,710 --> 00:17:19,509 well I shouldn't say the 593 00:17:19,430 --> 00:17:20,529 perceived, but the calculated 594 00:17:20,529 --> 00:17:21,349 ability to pay. 595 00:17:22,470 --> 00:17:24,089 And that's the reality. 596 00:17:24,250 --> 00:17:25,430 That ranges all the way from 597 00:17:25,930 --> 00:17:27,269 the cost of 598 00:17:27,809 --> 00:17:29,750 harvest equipment, to the cost 599 00:17:29,750 --> 00:17:31,029 of fertilizers, to the cost of 600 00:17:31,029 --> 00:17:31,910 seeds, to the cost of 601 00:17:31,910 --> 00:17:33,210 fungicides, insecticides, and so 602 00:17:33,210 --> 00:17:34,009 forth. 603 00:17:34,569 --> 00:17:35,470 And so 604 00:17:36,289 --> 00:17:38,289 this is something that's quite 605 00:17:38,289 --> 00:17:39,250 important to me and that I want 606 00:17:39,250 --> 00:17:40,490 us to continue developing as a 607 00:17:40,490 --> 00:17:41,349 company. So if this is something 608 00:17:41,349 --> 00:17:42,190 you're interested in 609 00:17:42,599 --> 00:17:43,859 at a substantial scale, 610 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:45,359 please reach out to us and let's 611 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:46,160 have that conversation. 612 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:47,720 For now, 613 00:17:47,799 --> 00:17:50,579 I want to wish you all a great 614 00:17:50,579 --> 00:17:51,519 growing season. 615 00:17:52,390 --> 00:17:53,630 May this year be a very 616 00:17:53,630 --> 00:17:54,549 profitable year. 617 00:17:55,670 --> 00:17:56,470 And 618 00:17:56,599 --> 00:17:59,029 please check out the warranty 619 00:17:59,029 --> 00:18:00,509 programs for BioCoat Gold. 620 00:18:01,339 --> 00:18:02,920 If you have an application for 621 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:04,339 pinion that you want to test out 622 00:18:04,339 --> 00:18:05,139 on scale, 623 00:18:05,470 --> 00:18:06,490 please contact us. 624 00:18:06,710 --> 00:18:07,950 Let's have a conversation about 625 00:18:08,420 --> 00:18:10,019 how we can collaborate on the 626 00:18:10,019 --> 00:18:10,880 risk in that, if that is 627 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:11,680 appropriate. 628 00:18:12,410 --> 00:18:14,910 And more broadly than that, if 629 00:18:14,910 --> 00:18:15,849 you want to also 630 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,019 have us participate in the risk 631 00:18:19,519 --> 00:18:20,319 for 632 00:18:20,759 --> 00:18:22,240 an entire program, an entire 633 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:23,359 system on scale, 634 00:18:24,089 --> 00:18:25,730 please reach out to us and let's 635 00:18:25,730 --> 00:18:26,869 have that conversation as well. 636 00:18:27,670 --> 00:18:29,130 So thank you all for being here. 637 00:18:29,410 --> 00:18:30,329 Thank you for all the work that 638 00:18:30,329 --> 00:18:31,129 you do. 639 00:18:31,289 --> 00:18:32,670 I really appreciate all of you 640 00:18:32,670 --> 00:18:34,849 as listeners and the amazing 641 00:18:34,849 --> 00:18:35,849 changes that 642 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:37,019 you are creating on your 643 00:18:37,019 --> 00:18:37,960 operations and in the world 644 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:38,759 generally. 645 00:18:39,250 --> 00:18:40,269 And we 646 00:18:40,869 --> 00:18:43,390 always welcome your feedback and 647 00:18:43,390 --> 00:18:44,509 your input on 648 00:18:45,019 --> 00:18:46,700 how we can improve as a company 649 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:47,859 and how we can provide greater 650 00:18:47,859 --> 00:18:48,659 value. 651 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,000 So thanks for all that you do. 652 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:51,160 And let's talk again soon. 653 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:53,920 The team at AEA and I are 654 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:55,440 dedicated to bringing this show 655 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,039 to you because we believe that 656 00:18:57,039 --> 00:18:58,720 knowledge and information is the 657 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:00,460 foundation of successful 658 00:19:00,460 --> 00:19:01,720 regenerative systems. 659 00:19:02,470 --> 00:19:04,430 At AEA, we believe that growing 660 00:19:04,430 --> 00:19:06,150 better quality food and making 661 00:19:06,150 --> 00:19:07,670 more money from your crops is 662 00:19:07,670 --> 00:19:08,470 possible. 663 00:19:08,809 --> 00:19:09,750 And since 2006, 664 00:19:10,109 --> 00:19:11,029 we've worked with leading 665 00:19:11,029 --> 00:19:12,369 professional growers to help 666 00:19:12,369 --> 00:19:13,349 them do just that. 667 00:19:14,049 --> 00:19:15,349 At AEA, we do it all. 668 00:19:16,029 --> 00:19:17,230 we test, we analyze, 669 00:19:17,910 --> 00:19:19,150 and we provide recommendations 670 00:19:19,150 --> 00:19:20,910 based on scientific data, 671 00:19:21,369 --> 00:19:22,250 knowledge, and experience. 672 00:19:22,990 --> 00:19:24,069 We've developed products that 673 00:19:24,069 --> 00:19:25,369 are uniquely positioned to help 674 00:19:25,369 --> 00:19:26,869 growers make more money with 675 00:19:26,869 --> 00:19:27,849 regenerative agriculture. 676 00:19:28,599 --> 00:19:29,960 If you are a professional grower 677 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:31,819 who believes in testing instead 678 00:19:31,819 --> 00:19:32,619 of guessing, 679 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:34,279 someone who believes in a 680 00:19:34,279 --> 00:19:35,680 better, more regenerative way to 681 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:36,480 grow, 682 00:19:36,730 --> 00:19:39,150 visit advancingecoag .com and 683 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:40,690 contact us to see if AEA is 684 00:19:40,690 --> 00:19:41,490 right for you.