Low-Cost Software and High-Value Humans with Shay Foulk

Why It Matters

By offering a no‑cost, AI‑built platform, A View Solutions accelerates data‑driven decision‑making on farms while locking in consulting revenue, a blueprint that could redefine profitability across agricultural technology.

Key Takeaways

• Free Farm Profit Manager app attracted 250 users in 24 hours.
• One million acres enrolled within ten days of launch.
• Business model shifts from software sales to consulting services.
• AI reduced development costs, enabling rapid, low‑cost software creation.
• Trusted, farmer‑built tools drive adoption over generic AI solutions.

Summary

The Future of Agriculture podcast featured Shay Foulk of A View Solutions unveiling the Farm Profit Manager app, a free, cloud‑based tool that replaces the legacy $2,500 Excel‑based Profit Manager. The launch marks a strategic pivot from selling software licenses to monetizing high‑touch consulting.

Within 24 hours the beta attracted 250 sign‑ups and, by April 10, more than one million acres were enrolled, demonstrating immediate farmer demand. Foulk attributes this speed to AI‑driven development that slashed coding costs, allowing the company to deliver a polished product without the capital outlay previously required.

Foulk emphasized that “a year ago was too early, a year from now is too late,” underscoring the urgency of adopting AI tools. He also highlighted the 30‑year legacy of the Profit Manager, the shift to a consulting‑first revenue model, and the role of student developers from Iowa State in building the new platform.

The move illustrates a broader industry trend: software becomes a loss leader while expertise, transition planning, and peer‑group facilitation become the profit centers. Competitors may feel pressure to replicate the free‑tool, high‑value‑service model, reshaping how ag‑tech firms generate revenue.

Original Description

Ag View Solutions: https://www.agviewsolutions.com/

Farm Profit Manager: https://www.farmprofitmanager.com/

Today’s guest is Shay Foulk of Ag View Solutions and the Farm Profit Manager app. I’ve known of Shay for years as a podcaster and farm management consultant, and his presence on social media. Shay and I both have been a part of webinars for Fractal Ag in the past, and shout out to Ben at Fractal for helping to make today’s episode happen.

Some background on Shay:

Shay Foulk is a farm business consultant with Ag View Solutions who works with operations to improve profitability and efficiency, manage risk, and grow. They offer this to farmers in the form of consulting, coaching, Peer Group facilitation and the Profit Manager app that we’ll talk a lot about today.

He grew up in NE Iowa working on a row crop and livestock operation with his father, uncles, and grandfathers. He attended Iowa State University where he majored in Agronomy. After graduating, Shay enlisted in the United States Army, and served 5 years with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He continues to serve with the Illinois National Guard out of Peoria. He also farms and runs Monier Seed with his father-in-law and wife, Hannah, near Sparland, IL.

Shay’s step dad, Chris Barron, started Ag View Solutions clear back in the mid 90s. He developed the foundation of what became what they called Profit Manager. He noticed that he knew his numbers a lot better on the hog production side of his farm, and wanted to apply the same business analysis to the crops side. So with his college roommate he developed the first version of Profit Manager on DOS. After years of consulting with farmers he turned it into an Excel-based tool. For years they have sold the tool and offered consulting services. Shay joined the business in 2019, and just this year they converted the Excel-based Profit Manager into this new app called Farm Profit Manager, and offered it for free.