The Role of an Agribusiness Consultant in Modern Farming Strategies

Agribusiness consulting services support farmers with advice, planning, monitoring, and assessing crop performance. While crop productivity is a shared goal, the way an agribusiness consultant approaches it can differ quite a bit. In today’s agricultural industry, sustainability, efficiency, and productivity require innovative solutions.

The Agribusiness Consultant

Modern farmers find themselves juggling multiple hats as they try to manage their business—crop production, finance, procurement, even marketing. The only way to do this effectively is to use services and products that they trust.  

Typically, agribusiness consultants gather information about the current state of the farm through field scouting and soil or tissue sampling. They use this data to assess crop performance, identify various pressures, and suggest products and management advice to address any problems that could impact the farm’s profitability. 

Agribusiness consultants may specialize in certain areas. They provide skill sets and in-depth knowledge that the grower may lack or not have time to learn. Strategic use of agribusiness consultants brings in differing viewpoints or new information so that growers can make informed decisions that boost efficiency and production goals. 

Approaches to Agricultural Success

As in every industry, there are differences in management styles, approaches to obstacles, and even how success is defined. The agricultural industry has developed over time to associate success with yield and profitability. However, there has been a rise in businesses that define success as a balance between the traditional metrics of yield and profitability, and sustainability.

Reacting to Present Conditions

When agribusiness consultants find issues in a field, such as weeds or pests, and make recommendations, they are providing reactive or rescue recommendations. However, as the primary approach to success, this leaves a lot to be desired—and money on the table.

Chasing proverbial fires takes a mental and financial toll. By the time the recommendation comes, the specific pressure has already cost the farmer yield. There is an urgency associated with minimizing the impact on profits and loss of efficiency. Time is taken from production activities for recovery, and the management strategy focuses on maintaining stability instead of growth.

Product Recommendations and Application Methods

Traditional approaches in consulting rely on products that have been on the market for a long time. Long-time use has made them “safe” suggestions. Reliability and security are important, but so is innovation and growth. Advances in agronomy and environmental sciences have shown that “safe” isn’t necessarily the same as sustainable and may not even be the best solution anymore.

For instance, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are dependable nutrient sources and have been since their development in the early 1900s. However, researchers now recognize that their traditional use has created a lot of waste. The practice of applying more than needed to buffer the crop’s needs is turning out to be unsustainable. Excess nitrogen changes the soil and can potentially damage the very crops it was meant to support. 

Institutionalized Best Practices

Universities have long been seen as independent sources of quality research, and university recommendations are a mainstay for agribusiness consultants. The reputation of the institutions both secures its status as a source for best practices and limits it.

Research takes time and resources, so topics with the best chance for funding tend to be chosen. This reinforces previous research and the reputations built upon it. Research is slow, and the number of innovative products and technology is outpacing the timescales needed for studying them. Solely relying on traditional recommendations means missing out on new solutions.

How Red Barn Enterprises Builds Success: The Max Yield System

Red Barn Enterprises takes a proactive approach that emphasizes early planning, innovative solutions, and sustainable management practices. Their team uses a comprehensive field-by-field plan called The Max Yield System. The Max Yield System is customized to meet the unique needs of each field using the grower’s preferred operation methods.

Early Planning

Risk is inherent in farming. There are just too many ways the unpredictable can derail the production season: excessive rain, drought, market trends, pests, and weed infestations. But planning offers stability. The team at Red Barn Enterprises starts planning early, typically in August or September, for next spring planting. Using The Max Yield System, the farmer is able to lay out concrete goals, set time frames for product application, and purchase inputs to have on hand.  Taking these steps early provides time and access to resources so that growers can assess and adapt as problems arise.

A Proactive Approach to Farming

Another perk to early planning is the ability to get ahead of potential problems. While it is impossible to eliminate problems like pests and weeds completely, a proactive approach can limit their impact. For instance, stopping the weeds before they start is the best way to safeguard the crop’s yield. If a particular field has a history of Kochia, a pre-emergent application of herbicide can be incorporated into the plan to reduce the negative impacts the weeds could cause once the crop grows.

Sustainability

The idea behind sustainability is to only use what is needed when it is needed. This management style conserves resources without sacrificing profitability. Data is used to understand the circumstances and needs of each field. Targeted product suggestions include balanced quantities and application time frames to avoid waste, improve crops, and reduce negative environmental impacts.

Innovative Product Solutions

Red Barn Enterprises watches for sustainable technologies and products that show real value for farmers. They recognize the benefits of nutrition and biological products like Pivot Bio PROVEN 40 that can improve crop and soil health. Product suggestions aim to address anticipated pressures and management factors. However, their strategy balances current productivity goals with the long-term health of the lands under their customer’s management.

Getting Started With Red Barn Enterprises

At Red Barn Enterprises, we understand the evolving landscape of modern farming and the need for tailored proactive strategies. By working with our agribusiness consultants, you leverage nearly 50 years of experience and innovative solutions that can dramatically enhance your farm’s productivity and sustainability. Our Max Yield System is not just a set of recommendations—it’s a comprehensive approach designed to integrate seamlessly with your operational goals and the unique characteristics of your land. Whether you’re dealing with nutrient management, pest control, or planning for the unexpected, our team is ready to guide you every step of the way. 

This post was written by Axis Seed – Red Barn Enterprises President and resident corn expert, Matt Long.