We just returned from the Precision Farming Dealer Summit in St. Louis. To say I was overwhelmed by the information gleaned would be an understatement. The use of AI and precision agriculture was on display at its best.

As I listened to presentations of systems and integration of different systems and various applications, it caused a pause to think. I believe this old iron peddler has been blessed to see more changes in agriculture in my lifetime than has occurred since man first put a seed in the ground and expected a harvest. Now our family always was on the leading edge of something as even my grandad used GPS with his mules. He placed a Giant Pole or Stick on the other end of the field to assist him in making straight rows. He always said one could get more corn in a crooked row than a perfectly straight one, but that it just didn’t impress the neighbors as much. But I digress, a bad habit that is mine.

Upon looking at the promos for this event, one of the highlights was meeting other people and networking. This again was an understatement. We met some sharp young and some not so young industry gurus who spoke in unknown tongues at times as I nodded in agreement as to what, I had no clue. They probably knew that as the glazed over eyes gave me away, but all were polite anyway. We also met a man all the way from South Africa. As we talked, I noticed the stack of information he held and asked about the progress of agricultural production there. He said, “You mean 'South China?'” and smiled. To which the conversation led to the state of the government there and the influx of Chinese and the takeover of a lot of land and production, most under the “radar.”

This could provide the Lessiter Press a good story for the future. The South African stated American commodity producers certainly will not benefit from China producing protein for their food chain in Africa like they are doing in South America. He went on to state that the international actions of our nation were really irritating the Chinese and, although in times and places necessary, were not conducive in making them want to fulfill the purchases of our soybeans. I thought this an interesting observation from a like mind from another continent.

So, all this and more packed into the Summit, makes us give two thumbs up on this high-tech event and applaud all the sponsors. The road to efficiency in agricultural production using these methods will be a challenge in challenging times, but — the key to survival. My suggestion to a few was to equip a planter for our farm that would only plant the areas of our field that would make a profit. We also suggested for the cow/calf producers a way to make beef cows more artificially intelligent and possibly an implantable instruction chip for a first-time tractor buyer. I will not be asked to be a featured speaker next year unless they have a Dinosaur Dealer Summit ... 'til next time, wishing you miles of smiles and profits.

Told from the perspective of an in-the-trenches owner/operator — Tim Brannon of B&G Equipment, Paris, Tenn. — Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways shares knowledge, experiences and tips/lessons with fellow rural equipment dealerships throughout North America. Covering all aspects required of an equipment dealership general manager, Brannon will inform, entertain and provide a teachable moment for current — and future — leaders within equipment dealerships.

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