AgCulture Podcast

For decades, agriculture has followed one simple rule: bigger machines, more acres, more efficiency.
But what if that model is starting to break?
In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with Andrew Bate, co-founder of SwarmFarm Robotics, to explore a radically different vision for the future of farming — autonomous swarm robotics.
Built by farmers in the field, not engineers in an office, SwarmFarm challenges the assumption that scale equals success. Instead of one massive machine, Andrew and his team are deploying fleets of small, autonomous robots designed to farm more precisely, more efficiently, and ultimately — better.
This conversation dives into the tension between precision agriculture and large-scale machinery, the rise of micro-targeted farming systems, and how new technologies like AI, computer vision, and connectivity are finally making autonomous farming viable.
If you’ve ever wondered whether agriculture should keep scaling up — or rethink the system entirely — this episode will challenge your assumptions.

MEET THE GUEST
Andrew Bate
Andrew Bate is the founder and CEO of SwarmFarm Robotics, an Australian agtech company based in Queensland that develops autonomous farming robots. A farmer himself, Bate co-founded the company with his wife, Jocie, building it from their family farm after becoming frustrated with the increasing size and limitations of traditional agricultural machinery.
Initially bootstrapped, SwarmFarm introduced a new model of farming based on smaller, autonomous machines working collaboratively. Bate’s work focuses on enabling more precise, efficient, and adaptable farming systems, challenging the long-held assumption that bigger equipment leads to better productivity.

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Discover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast".This podcast will be a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.
Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels and encounters with important figures around the world.
Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.

What if the biggest decisions shaping your farm today are actually being made a decade in advance?
In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with Tony Klemm (CEO) and Tom Meade (Chief Science Officer) from Enko Chem at the World AgriTech Summit to explore how the next generation of crop protection is being built.
Unlike most of agriculture, where decisions are made season to season, Enko is working on problems that don’t fully exist yet — identifying future pest, disease, and resistance challenges and developing solutions years before they reach the farm gate. Using advanced discovery technologies adapted from the pharmaceutical industry, they are rethinking how new chemistries are identified, tested, and brought to market.
This conversation dives into the shift happening in crop protection — from legacy molecules and slowing innovation pipelines to a new model built on collaboration, precision application, and more sustainable, highly targeted solutions.
If you want to understand where chemistry, regulation, and farm productivity are heading — and what tools will be in your toolbox 10 years from now — this is a conversation worth paying attention to.
Listen to the episode now!

MEET THE GUESTS
Tony KlemmTony Klemm is the CEO of Enko Chem, Inc. with over 30 years of experience in agricultural biotechnology. Prior to joining Enko in 2025, he served as VP of Global Business Development and Licensing at Corteva Agriscience, where he led strategic growth and innovation in the Seeds Business Unit. Tony has held leadership roles at Dow AgroSciences and DowDuPont and has extensive experience in global negotiations, partnerships, and commercialization strategies. He holds an Executive MBA in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University.
Tom Meade, Ph.D.Tom Meade is Chief Science Officer at Enko Chem and has more than 30 years of experience in crop protection and trait discovery. He began his career at Mycogen and later held leadership roles at Dow AgroSciences, where he led global traits discovery. Tom has authored multiple scientific publications and holds 27 U.S. patents. He earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from UC Riverside.

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Discover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast". This podcast will be a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels and encounters with important figures around the world.Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.

Over the last three decades, the U.S. wine industry was one of agriculture’s biggest premiumization success stories.
Demand grew steadily. Vineyards expanded. Wineries multiplied. Capital flowed in. Valuations rose.
But today the industry is facing something very different.
Consumer demographics are shifting, younger generations drink differently than boomers, new lifestyle trends are emerging, and excess supply is forcing the industry into a painful market correction.
In this episode, Paul sits down with Rob McMillan — one of the most respected analysts of the U.S. wine industry and the author of Silicon Valley Bank’s widely followed State of the Wine Industry Report.
Rob has spent over three decades analyzing the economics, capital cycles, and structural forces shaping wine. His insights have become essential reading for winery owners, investors, and operators across the world.
But this conversation goes far beyond wine.
It explores what happens when a premium agricultural sector built on long production timelines collides with changing consumer demand.
The lessons apply across agriculture — from specialty crops to premium food brands.

MEET THE GUEST
Rob McMillan
Rob McMillan is Executive Vice President and founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division and one of the most influential analysts in the U.S. wine industry.
For more than three decades, Rob has studied the financial health, demand patterns, and structural shifts shaping the wine business.
He is the author of Silicon Valley Bank’s annual State of the Wine Industry Report, described by the New York Times as “probably the most influential analysis of its kind.”
Rob’s insights are widely used by winery owners, investors, journalists, and industry leaders seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of premium wine markets.

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Discover the world of agriculture with the Ag Culture Podcast.
This podcast explores the global forces shaping agriculture — from emerging technologies and investment trends to shifting consumer behavior and industry innovation.
Join Paul Windemuller as he shares conversations with leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, and operators across agriculture.
🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

What if farms could operate with the same level of automation and visibility as an Amazon warehouse — but designed around real farm life?
In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with David Alpert, Co-Founder of Emergent, to explore the future of Total Farm Automation. David shares how agriculture’s biggest bottleneck isn’t data — it’s connectivity — and why solving rural digital infrastructure is the foundation for better decisions, stronger profitability, and improved quality of life for producers.
If you care about automation, interoperability, farm data ownership, or rebuilding trust between farmers and consumers — this conversation goes deep.
Listen to the episode now!

MEET THE GUEST
David Alpert
David Alpert is a Co-Founder of Emergent and one of the voices helping agriculture move toward Total Farm Automation. His work is centered on putting producers in total control of their business — giving farmers real-time visibility and control over their operations to improve efficiency, profitability, and quality of life.
A decade ago, David helped found Farm Journal’s Trust In Food Initiative, working alongside producers, brands, and industry leaders to strengthen trust and transparency across the agri-food value chain. Through that experience, he saw firsthand how much of farming still depends on manual checks, late discoveries, and constant guesswork — and set out to change that.

Discover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast".This podcast will be a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.
Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels and encounters with important figures around the world.
Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.

It’s tax season — which means farmers, ag business owners, and ag-tech founders are all asking the same question: Did I miss something?
In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with Louie Pitman and Sid Speir from RK Partners to unpack one of the most overlooked financial tools in agriculture — the R&D Tax Credit. RK Partners helps companies across agriculture and ag-tech optimize this government incentive, which can return roughly $0.10 for every $1 spent on qualifying research and development activity.
And that activity may be happening on your farm already.
R&D in agriculture can include animal health and nutrition programs, feed trials, crop science, genetics, automation, process improvements, robotics, AI systems, and even sustainability initiatives. RK works with farms and ag-tech businesses across the U.S. — including dairy, poultry, swine, crop operations, and agricultural technology providers — helping them identify, document, and defend qualifying claims.
If you’re experimenting, improving, testing, or building — this conversation may apply to you more than you think.
You can learn more about RK Partners at: https://www.rkpartners.com

MEET THE GUESTS
Louie Pitman
Louie is a Partner at RK Partners, working closely with agricultural businesses across the United States to help them maximize federal and state tax credits. With over seven years of experience in tax credits and incentives, he supports family-owned farms, large livestock operations, ag-focused manufacturers, and agtech startups in identifying opportunities within the R&D credit framework.Connect with Louie on LinkedIn

Sid Speir
Sid is the Vice President at RK Partners, where he leads the firm’s Agriculture division. He works closely with some of the largest livestock and crop operations across the United States, helping them navigate and maximize the federal R&D Tax Credit. With nearly a decade of experience in the R&D tax space, Sid specializes in identifying, documenting, and defending qualifying claims for agricultural businesses.Connect with Sid on LinkedIn

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Discover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast".This podcast is a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.
Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels and encounters with important figures around the world.
Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.

00:00 – Why R&D tax credits matter for agriculture

02:05 – What R&D tax credits actually are

05:30 – The 4-part qualification test
09:00 – Practical dairy farm examples
12:05 – The George v. Commissioner case
14:30 – Paul’s on-farm experience
16:00 – Documentation made simple
21:20 – Genetics & breeding as R&D
24:00 – AgTech & AI applications
27:00 – Payroll tax offset for startups
28:45 – How the credit reduces taxes
30:40 – The Big Beautiful Bill explained
32:30 – Audit risk & defensible claims
37:00 – What agriculture underestimates