I do software development by day and have a cash crop farming operation on the side, so I have familiarity with both industries. I think an agricultural-based software startup would be mighty interesting.
However, the bulk of my problems on the farm are related to interfacing with third-party businesses. They have no incentive to improve their processes because the average farmer is 55 years old and would rather bang a hammer than bang a keyboard, and I cannot improve my processes without direct access to their data.
Your advice is sound, but personally I have found it to be not a very inspiring place for a startup yet. The low hanging fruit, at least as far as my operation is concerned, I find is already solved well enough. As some of the older farmers who fear computers move into retirement, however, I think the landscape will quickly change and some big opportunities will rapidly appear. I am looking forward to it.
However, the bulk of my problems on the farm are related to interfacing with third-party businesses. They have no incentive to improve their processes because the average farmer is 55 years old and would rather bang a hammer than bang a keyboard, and I cannot improve my processes without direct access to their data.
Your advice is sound, but personally I have found it to be not a very inspiring place for a startup yet. The low hanging fruit, at least as far as my operation is concerned, I find is already solved well enough. As some of the older farmers who fear computers move into retirement, however, I think the landscape will quickly change and some big opportunities will rapidly appear. I am looking forward to it.