Monarch Tractor, an autonomous electric tractor startup, announced its shutdown after failing to secure additional capital. The company had raised significant venture funding but could not deliver a commercially viable product that met farmers' needs. Hosts Tim and Tyler use the closure to question whether any agtech startup has truly achieved product‑market‑fit. Their discussion highlights broader skepticism about the readiness of farm automation technologies.
In episode 236 of The Agronomist, Edgar Hammermeister and Marshall McDaniel dissect how soils release nitrogen and why predicting that release is notoriously complex. They highlight the influence of organic‑matter quality, soil texture, moisture, and temperature on mineralization rates, and...
In an April 1 episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, Pulse Canada’s Shane Stridehorst explains how pulse growers can manage phosphorus, potassium and sulfur (PKS) amid soaring fertilizer prices and tight margins. He stresses that pulses need no nitrogen, allowing farmers to...
In this episode, John Deere’s Anthony Stosinski outlines the 2027 planter upgrades, highlighting Exact Depth control from the cab, FurrowVision imaging, and automated downforce adjustments to improve emergence and residue management. He also explains the new dual‑product fertilizer system that...

In less than a year, New Zealand‑based Halter secured $165 million in a Series D round and a further $220 million in Series E, pushing its valuation to roughly $2 billion even as global ag‑tech funding has slumped more than 70 percent. The company’s virtual‑fencing system, which...
In this April 1 episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, Pete discusses the hidden impacts of global events on agriculture, such as a missile‑hit chemical plant in Israel and fertilizer shortages in Ireland, before highlighting a remarkable winter‑wheat crop in the Pacific...
In this Canola School episode, Dr. Boyd Morey, an associate professor at the University of Alberta, explains early‑season threats from cutworms and flea beetles and how growers can scout and manage them. He outlines scouting methods—looking for shot‑hole damage and...
Tim and Tyler Nuss recap the World Agri‑Tech Innovation Summit, highlighting breakthroughs in precision farming, alternative proteins, and data‑driven supply chains. They also unpack AgFunder's latest Investment Report, which shows a 38% rise in global ag‑tech capital and record funding...