Four start-ups have been selected to compete in our annual Ag Tech Innovation Competition at the Iowa Power Farming Show.
Each ag tech start-up has five minutes to pitch its solution for helping farmers and ranchers manage their operations more effectively. The competition, emceed by Chad Moyer (KTIC Radio farm director), will culminate with one company earning the $5,000 People’s Choice award, which is determined by members of the audience. The grand prize winner of $20,000 will be determined by our panel of judges: Tony Jesina, our SVP of insurance; FCSAmerica customer Scott Henry; and Mike Taylor of Midwest Growth Partners.
The event begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Competitors will take the stage in Hy-Vee Hall. The competitors and their innovation include:
- AgButler – A platform that provides on-demand jobs, giving farmers and ranchers access to a high-quality labor force while boosting rural economies.
- FeedX – A one-stop shop to buy, sell and make feed decisions, FeedX builds tools for farmers and feed mills to make it easier for them to work together.
- Mercaris - Provides market data, analytics and an online trading platform for the Identity-Preserved (IP) agricultural sector, mainly organic and non-GMO grains, oilseeds and dairy commodities.
- Swine Sentinel – Changes the way the swine producers monitor performance and animal well-being using sophisticated AI and computer-vision technology.
The Ag Tech Innovation Competition is presented by Farm Credit Services of America. People’s Choice Award sponsors are Nationwide, CoBank and Farm Credit Leasing. Participating sponsors are NAU Country, Ag Startup Engine and the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association.
