Ep100: Managing Diversification Risk with Elizabeth South of Keystone Cooperative
Release Date: 02/05/2025
Ep124: The Ag Co-Op Diversification Myth
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Definition of diversification. [02:28] Is diversification always objectively valuable in ag? [03:10] The diversification misnomer in the context of co-ops. [04:29] Perceived vs. real diversification. [08:27] Three critical risks of attempting true diversification. [13:01] What problems do we seek to resolve by diversification? [17:29] The fallacy that diversifying adds member value to co-ops. [21:18] Diversification vs. differentiation in agribusiness. [23:07] Advice to help rethink how to approach diversification. [24:44] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to...
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Ep123: Fixing Ag Freight with Jared Flinn of BulkLoads
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: BulkLoads’ origin story and company overview. [03:31] Opportunities and challenges ag bulk freight creates. [07:39] Service innovation with factoring and TMS solutions. [21:24] Insights on broad appeal and pain points beyond load matching. [26:26] The benefits of digitization in trucking and freight. [28:47] Explore the uses and trends of AI robotics in trucking. [36:20] The future role of load boards as robo-trucks and AI evolve. [39:54] Is there added complexity in ag bulk hauling vs. general freight? [47:12] Check out The BulkLoads Podcast hosted by Jared. [48:45] ...
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Ep122: Strategy First, AI Second with Rhishi Pethe & Patrick Honcoop
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Taking a collective approach to agtech advisory needs. [06:13] The Collective’s service offerings and expertise. [10:37] Core forms of AI in ag with compelling examples. [17:46] Why a digital strategy is essential for every agribusiness. [25:45] Factors hindering AI adoption away from Excel and ERPs. [26:09] How does AI enhance operational efficiencies for farmers, dealers, and agronomists? [32:58] The danger of the “do something with AI” mandate in agribusiness [42:07] How to lead digital and AI adoption with agribusiness goals in mind. [51:22] To contact the AgTech...
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Ep121: Rethinking Customer Retention Risk Post-M&A
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Understand the centrality of customer retention in M&A success. [00:47] The importance of defining retention goals as explicit data-driven targets. [02:43] How to identify the customers to prioritize in retention strategies. [04:18] Why first-year post-deal retention is not predictive. [05:57] Growth and retention as “both/and” objectives explained with M&A math. [11:49] The value of anchoring retention and growth plans in existing customer realities. [15:21] Three core takeaways to capitalize on the increased M&A activity in ag. [19:28] If you are interested...
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Ep120: Crop Fertility and Humics M&A with Nick Bancroft of AgroLiquid
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Learn about Michigan-based AgroLiquid 40+ years strong in crop fertility. [03:15] Why AgroLiquid chose M&A for growth after decades of organic expansion. [05:55] The five-key disciplined framework that led to acquiring Monty’s Plant Food. [06:47] Understand the post-deal realities of integration. [15:28] Is your agribusiness sellable, though you may never sell? [21:07] Explore the seller’s vision and legacy concerns in M&A. [25:15] Advice for M&A target sourcing and first meetings. [27:40] What made Monty’s Plant Food a strategic fit for AgroLiquid? [32:46]...
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Ep119: Investing in Rural America with Jase Wagner of Compeer Financial
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: How Compeer Financial positions its identity and impact in agribusiness. [03:40] Multilateral collaboration as an ag innovation accelerator. [07:29] How an abundance mindset, not zero-sum thinking, benefits ag. [12:20] Why long-term rural community development matters for true sustainability in ag. [16:36] Defining a strong organizational culture and articulating its essence as a leader. [27:46] The risks of prioritizing client outcomes over values. [36:44] Upside lessons from a tri-party ag credit banking merger. [40:08] Navigating the current state of uncertainty in ag....
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Ep118: Demand Signals and Supply Equilibrium with Ryan Locke of National Oilseed Processors Association
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Discover the origins and key role of NOPA in oilseeds. [05:04] The latest science vs. sentiment conversation on seed oils in food. [09:01] Are seed oils ultra-processed as the MAHA Commission asserts? [11:12] Why clear policy signals from RVOs and 45Z tax credits are critical. [18:54] How 45Z policy changes will directly benefit domestic farmers and producers. [21:38] Will the 45Z extension revive soybean crush capacity? [25:47] Sunsets, uncertainties and policy shocks behind plant closures in ag. [29:31] Is RVO an artificial demand driver? [33:59] What long-tail risks to...
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Ep117: Building Consolidation Proof Agtech with Kyle McMahon of Tractor Zoom
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: How Tractor Zoom transforms sales and inventory workflow for ag equipment dealers. [04:32] Real-time marketplace visibility and price discovery using AI. [08:07] Tractor Zoom’s origin story and the power of leveraging genuine pain points. [14:26] Why true value comes from workflow integration, not data for data’s sake. [19:49] The importance of dealer–farmer relationships in the equipment value chain. [23:20] Is Tractor Zoom poised to adapt to farm and dealer consolidation? [28:58] Balancing customer-driven innovation with the internal product roadmap. [37:31]...
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Ep116: Solving Agribusiness Customer Retention Risk with Andrew Levenson of Root+Beta
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Root + Beta’s niche marketing for John Deere dealer groups and scope of services. [03:35] Emerging trend of cross-border M&As in ag equipment. [07:38] Potential risks to customer retention during M&A branding. [15:43] Why failure to engage staff in the M&A process is a critical PR misstep. [19:57] How to plan and execute external and internal M&A communications. [23:39] Storytelling to create concurrent legacy and prospective customer buy-in. [27:32] Importance of employee training to navigate a reprioritized customer base. [31:02] The power of authenticity...
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Ep115: BRICS is a Symptom, Not a Threat, with Rob Fox and Tanner Ehmke of CoBank
The Pacesetter Pod
Show Highlights: Grain’s global oversupply and the myth of 10 billion mouths to feed. [05:53] Prospects for biofuels amid surplus grain production. [08:08] Post-China grain export market - can we replace lost demand in the aggregate? [10:07] The free trade “hard reboot” and shift from multilateral to bilateral agreements [17:49] Ag market access and protectionism in Japanese rice and Canadian dairy. [27:26] BRICS and de-dollarization is not the competitive threat we need to worry about. [32:15] The inefficiency burden of diversifying U.S. grain exports. [42:37] Preparing for growth...
info_outlineShow Highlights:
- Learn about Keystone Cooperative’s history, divisions and evolution. [00:06:50]
- Strategic vs. opportunistic growth explained with Keystone’s formative mergers. [00:09:19]
- Best practices for creating an ideal partner profile for M&As. [00:14:56]
- Joint ventures as a growth strategy for potential M&As. [00:16:24]
- Uncover signals and team roles for moving from JVs to M&As. [00:20:52]
- Dissect due diligence processes for pre-deal and PMI phases. [00:28:02]
- How do risks differ in geographic vs. product diversification in ag? [00:35:23]
- Is your farm diversified for multigenerational succession? [00:39:35]
- Explore the value of in-house legal counsel for an agribusiness. [00:42:06]
- Why U.S. farmers matter for national security and world food production. [00:51:30]
Learn about Keystone Cooperative at https://www.keystonecoop.com/.
To connect with Elizabeth South, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-south-10851049/.
If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.