The Next Generation Of Industry Suppliers

Tim Robie, WISErg

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The May issue of American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower featured the launch of our GenNext Growers program, which is designed to provide the coming generation with the tools they need to improve their skills on and off the farm, and a network where they can share ideas. While the program is mostly focused on next-generation growers, every segment of the industry has a stake in its future. This month, we look at some younger individuals who supply growers with the products and resources they need to produce a high-quality crop, and get their take on where the industry is headed.

Tim Robie, Fertilizer sales, marketing, and research, WISErg, www.wiserg.com

• There’s a serious disconnect between the table and the farm, which is amazing considering we’re facing both a growing population and diminishing natural resources. Joining WISErg has allowed me the opportunity to apply my energy and passion to help develop and implement solutions for both organic waste management and sustainable crop production at the same time.
• Growers are our business, so anything that affects them affects us. With the many issues the agricultural sector faces, plus the challenges that come with being a member of a start-up trying to scale their business, I have more than enough to keep me up at night.
• Almost instantaneous access to information, and the speed by which information is shared, allows us to stay current on innovation and draw from ideas that are
happening in areas we wouldn’t come into contact with in our immediate lives.
• I hope to help our business move forward in the next 10 years through the willingness to step up and contribute in any way, whether it be identifying new business opportunities or cleaning the office bathrooms.

Heath Prescott, Technical Sales Representative, KeyPlex, www.keyplex.com

Heath Prescott, KeyPlex

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• My family has been deeply embedded in Florida agriculture for well over 100 years. Being exposed to citrus and cattle my entire life made it a very easy career choice.
• Our generation faces a number of challenges that the previous generation did not have to deal with as heavily: disease pressure, state and federal regulations, and competition saturating both farms and industry statewide, nationwide, and worldwide.
• At the same time, we have a number of new opportunities — things that have been  available for the past couple of decades, such as the Internet, and things that we are just
now beginning to use, like GMOs.
• In my opinion, nothing will ever replace the “boots on the ground” mentality and face-to-face meetings with growers. However, it helps being diverse in my field, and depending on the aptitude of the grower, there are many different forms of communication these days.
• Agriculture is not just a career path for me. It’s my livelihood. My family owning several groves and farms allows me to gain experience, see the needs of my customers first-hand, and bring real-world solutions to their needs.

Ty Snyder, Orchard Manager, C&O Nursery, www.c-onursery.com

Ty Snyder, C&O Nursery

• I chose agriculture because I have been involved in summer cherry harvests for many years. It came naturally after I went to college as well for sustainable agriculture production at Wenatchee Valley College.
• The biggest issue that worries me during harvest is finding a labor force to get the crop off. A close second is spring weather. Labor is a new issue that my father and uncles didn’t have to deal with.
• I use Facebook but haven’t really delved into the advertising, or showing people about growing apples. I see how it can impact a business positively and agriculture as a whole. To get information I usually rely on Washington State University’s Decision Aid System, my fieldman, or other growers if I need assistance.
• To see our business move ahead, it’s always great to get a new perspective. As a relatively new part of C&O I feel
I bring that. I feel as I develop that I can add upon what I’m starting now.

Ryan Atwood, Certified Crop Consultant/Customer Service Rep/New Business Development, KeyPlex, www.keyplex.com

Ryan Atwood, KeyPlex

• One issue that concerns me is the government’s ever-expanding reach for more regulations in all things related to agriculture, from water issue to labor issues.
• We live in a society that expects immediate communication: cell phones, text messages, email. Sometimes it seems you get pulled in many directions and it is hard to spend quality time with individuals.
• I like visiting grower operations and seeing first-hand their challenges and production practices.
• In the coming years, I would like to help our company develop new markets, including focusing on crops that previously were not of commercial value but are now emerging because of improved genetics.

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