It’s easy to get enamored with the rapid advancements the precision farming industry has made in recent years, from automated technology to algorithms that aggressively analyze gigabytes of collected farm data to arrive at a calculated field recommendation.
While there is momentum for a “push button” mentality in ag, there is an irreplaceable element — the human one — which is the core resource for Crystal Valley, a 2,200-member, 14-location farm cooperative based in Lake Crystal, Minn.
“Regardless of the product, quality people who deliver quality service will make or break any dealership,” says Jason Leary, ag technology manager for the co-op’s 6-person precision team. “Even amid the industry buzz around automation, data over relationships and decreasing human involvement, a product, service or information delivered by a trusted advisor will have the greatest chance to secure customer business in the future as it has in the past.”
Visiting with Leary, members of the precision team and Crystal Valley executives, everyone emphasized a collaborative effort to earn customer trust with a personal touch, tying soil fertility, data analytics and hardware sales and service together.
Founded: 1927
Employees: 225. The retailer has 6 employees directly involved with precision farming service/sales and another 73 working in agronomy.
Precision Lines Carried/Used: Precision Planting, 360 Yield Center, Veris Industries (soil mapping), DJI, DroneDeploy, Raven
Locations: 14
3-Year Precision Revenue Breakdown (Fiscal Year):
2016 $1,020,000
2017 $1,150,000
2018 $1,290,000
3-Year Agronomy Revenue Breakdown (Fiscal Year):
2016 $76,000,000
2017 $76,000,000
2018 $72,000,000
While agronomy and…
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This week, we’re catching up with the precision team at Eis Implement, a John Deere dealer in Two Rivers, Wis. The leaders of the department give us the inside scoop on what it takes for a precision team to be successful at a single store dealership.
