A Precision Farming Dealer Staff Report

Prioritizing the people side of a precision business, reinforcing the return in investment approach to selling services and leveraging long-term trust of customers for recurring revenue were building blocks of the third Precision Farming Dealer Summit. 

Featuring a speaker lineup that included 12 leading dealer groups representing more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue, the event held at the Galt House in Louisville, on Jan. 8-9, drew a sold out crowd of 165 precision farming professionals from more than 70 different dealerships across 26 states, as well as Canada, Australia and South Africa. 

Emphasizing the theme Bridging the Precision Profitability Gap, Precision Farming Dealer managing editor Jack Zemlicka noted during opening remarks that many dealers have the same questions when it comes to strengthening the foundation of their precision business: 

• How can we successfully leverage agronomic services into our precision business?
• What’s the secret to high productivity and low turnover with my precision staff?
• How can we more effectively track and measure billable time to increase precision sales?

While no dealership has perfected the design of a precision farming business, the 14 speakers, 3 sets of roundtable discussions and dynamic networking opportunities at the 2 day conference sought to candidly deliver managerial cornerstones for turning promise into profit.

Takeaways ranged from the sensible (making ROI “the” driver of every business decision) to the philosophical (will the flow of venture capital money into precision start-ups continue?) and attendees extended their network of precision alliances before heading home.

From the single-location independent retailer to the multi-store farm equipment dealer, the veteran precision ag manager to the newly hired specialist, the passion for precision farming was prevalent during each structured learning session and hallway conversations.

The pages that follow offer a snapshot of the 2018 Summit’s unique, knowledge-sharing environment. Stay tuned for extended coverage of the Summit in the March 2018 issue of Farm Equipment magazine and online at www.PrecisionFarmingDealer.com and www.Farm-Equipment.com.

Among the highlights at the 2018 Summit, dealers took advantage of 21 opportunities to participate in intense roundtable discussions on topics including employee retention, the value of UAVs and adding agronomic services.

A diverse group of nearly 170 attendees gathered in Louisville for the third Precision Farming Dealer Summit, which focused on bridging the knowledge gap to turn potential into profit with products and services.

Summer Print Edition Preview

Dissecting the Dynamics of a Successful Precision Partnership

One of the more unique panel presentations at the 2018 Precision Farming Dealer Summit featured three dealers joined by farm customers to analyze the essential elements of a successful business relationship.

Sharing candid perspectives from both sides of the precision partnership, Adam Gittins, general manager of HTS Ag in Harlan, Iowa, and farmer Josh Johnson; Brice Hennings, precision farming manager of Van Horn Precision Technologies in Cerro Gordo, Ill., and farmer Brack Dean; and Adam Fennig, product specialist with Fennig Equipment in Coldwater, Ohio, and farmer Bill Lehmkuhl, broke down the challenges, frustrations and victories they’ve experienced adopting and evolving technology on their farms and within their dealerships.

Stay tuned for detailed coverage of this panel discussion in the Summer 2018 print edition of Precision Farming Dealer.

PFD Winter 2018 Contents