Former USDA Under Secretary and previous Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey gathered a group of large-acre farmers from around the state for a discussion about what they seeking in technology during last week’s Tech Hub LIVE conference in Des Moines.

Joining Northey were Iowa farmers Scott Henry, LongView Farms; Kyle Mehmen, MBS Family Farms; and Ben Riensche, Blue Diamond Farming Company. Each discussed what they are looking for from trusted advisors in terms of value, service, and what is needed for success.

Northey sees a lot of potential for farmers in the low carbon future. “I believe we will gravitate towards more of a supply chain kind of market,” he said. “I think those early adopters are well positioned for if an ethanol plant says ‘I want to buy low carbon corn because I’m going to produce low carbon ethanol’…then they’re set up to do that.”