Having worked in some capacity in both agriculture and academia since graduating with my bachelor’s degree in 2019, I have an insider’s perspective on the disconnect between the two. Often the tenets of agriculture developed in labs and universities hold little weight in farm life, and in turn farmers can be reluctant to change or trust in academics. There’s a level of mystery around what actually happens in labs when farmers send soil or crops out for testing. Likewise, lab technicians may not always understand the combination of environmental factors and inputs that led farmers to making the choices they did. Though this causes disconnect between the two groups, it’s understandable: both are niche fields that require expertise and years of education to master, and most don’t have the time or resources to become experts in the lab and the field.
Boots on the ground
As someone who’s spent just enough time in both areas to begin to know what questions to ask, one of my goals with Square Deal is to help smooth out the disconnect by being able to meet both sides where they are. I’m not some faceless entity in a corporate office who’s never set foot on a hay farm before (in fact, I’m likely building your test spreadsheets after finishing raking hay for the day), but neither am I a multigenerational farmer who’s had all their knowledge passed down from family. As a hay broker for four years, I spent a lot of time learning about hay standards in different parts of the country, brushing up my knowledge on equine nutrition, and learning from scratch about the beef cattle and dairy hay markets. I also had the opportunity to learn from and talk to a lot of different farmers from Arizona to New York and most states in between.
Continuing education
If you have a question about a particular type of hay or an aspect of testing, I may not know the answer. What I do know is how to research it, vet my sources, and make sure that I’m coming back to you with a well-rounded answer that can be corroborated by multiple resources. There will be no ChatGPT or AI overview answers from Square Deal, ever. I’m not here for a quick solution, I’m here to use all the resources at my disposal to collaborate with you on the best solution possible.
What I can tell you is what I’ve learned from other growers or customers or from the farm I work on this year. I can pass on the knowledge that I get the opportunity to learn from others in my community, while also using critical thinking to make sure I’m not sharing opinions as facts. In a world that prioritizes fast AI answers over critical thought, let’s lean back into asking each other questions and learning together.