AgCulture Podcast

Hosted by Paul Windemuller

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138

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Embark on a transformative journey with AgCulture Podcast, hosted by Paul Windemuller. Our vision is to unite the global agriculture community, fostering collaboration and continual improvement. Explore new sectors, connect with inspiring individuals, and be moved by real-life stories. Join us in shaping a future where agripreneurs from diverse backgrounds come together, share knowledge, and collectively address industry challenges. Subscribe, share, and become part of our connected global agriculture community propelling the industry toward innovation, sustainability, and success.

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August 19, 2026Episode 3735 min

George Washington Carver: The Story Beyond the Peanut | Ep. 137

Most Americans know George Washington Carver as “the Peanut Man.” But peanuts are actually one of the least interesting parts of his story. In this solo episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul goes beyond the familiar version of Carver’s life to explore how he approached one of the biggest agricultural challenges facing the American South: How do you build resilient farms and rural communities when the entire system has become dependent on a single cash crop? Carver saw agriculture as an interconnected system of healthy soil, diverse crops, household nutrition, local resources, farmer education, and viable markets. Working with farmers who often had little money to invest, he developed practical ways to restore depleted soils, diversify away from continuous cotton production, improve family food security, and create economic opportunities around new crops. Paul explores Carver’s early fascination with plants, his scientific training at Iowa State, his move to Tuskegee, the famous Jesup agricultural wagon, the arrival of the boll weevil, and how Carver worked to solve not only the biological problem of crop diversification—but the economic problem of convincing farmers to actually adopt it. More than a century later, his story raises surprisingly modern questions about monocultures, markets, technology adoption, extension, soil health, and what it really takes to make agriculture more resilient. MEET THE HOST Paul Windemuller is a dairy farmer, entrepreneur, Nuffield International Farming Scholar, and host of the AgCulture Podcast. His work explores the intersection of agriculture, technology, business strategy, and the ideas that shape resilient farms and rural communities. In this historical solo series, Paul steps away from conversations about what agriculture might look like tomorrow to examine the farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators who helped shape it in the first place. Through Carver’s story, Paul explores a recurring theme of the AgCulture Podcast: lasting agricultural innovation happens when science, economics, practical farming, and the needs of the people actually doing the work come together. 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.

August 12, 2026Episode 3232 min

Biodiversity differences in farming around the world: with Wilco Brouwer de Koning | Ep. 136

Farmers around the world are being asked to become more sustainable—but who pays for it, and how do we decide what "sustainable" actually means? In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with fellow dairy farmer and Nuffield Scholar Wilco Brouwer de Koning to explore what he's learned studying biodiversity across dairy systems around the world. From the Netherlands' intense regulatory environment to New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, Wilco has discovered that sustainability priorities can look dramatically different depending on where you farm. The conversation digs into the tradeoffs between climate, biodiversity, water quality, food production, animal welfare, and farm profitability—and why improving one metric can sometimes make another worse. Wilco also explains how the Netherlands is using standardized farm data and KPIs to reward farmers through milk premiums and lower interest rates, offering a glimpse of what a market for biodiversity and sustainability could eventually look like globally. If farmers are going to be asked to produce more than food, Wilco argues they also need a system that recognizes—and rewards—the additional value they create. MEET THE GUEST Wilco Brouwer de Koning is a third-generation dairy farmer from Heiloo in the western Netherlands, where he operates Farm Ter Coulster with his family. The farm milks approximately 180 cows across 125 hectares in one of the most densely populated areas of the country, creating a unique intersection between commercial dairy farming, nature, and the surrounding community. Wilco's approach to farming centers around three pillars: grazing, working alongside nature, and connecting agriculture with society. The farm includes 35 hectares dedicated to nature, while Wilco and his family actively engage their local community through direct sales, social media, farm events, and their well-known spring "dancing cows" celebration. Beyond the farm, Wilco is active with LTO Netherlands and represents dairy farmers within the International Dairy Federation. He has been particularly involved in developing Key Performance Indicators that can measure—and ultimately reward—farmers for improvements in biodiversity and sustainability. As a Nuffield Scholar, Wilco is traveling globally to study how different dairy industries measure and reward biodiversity. His goal is to help develop systems where farmers aren't only recognized for the milk they produce, but also for the environmental and societal value their farms provide.ABOUT THE PODCASTDiscover 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.

August 5, 2026Episode 3528 min

Why AI Hasn't Changed Your Farm Yet (And What Happens When It Does) | Ep. 135

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. New software, sensors, robots, and dashboards promise to revolutionize dairy farming. Yet for many producers, the day-to-day reality hasn't changed nearly as much as the headlines suggest. Recorded live at the MilkPro Summit 2026 in Brazil, Paul shares one of his most requested keynote presentations, drawing on his experience as a dairy farmer and his research visiting hundreds of farms around the world. He explains why AI isn't fundamentally a technology story—it's a management story. Through practical farm examples and real-world frameworks, Paul introduces the concepts of the AI Profit Gap and the Four Levels of Farm Data Value , showing why many farms have invested heavily in technology but still struggle to make better decisions. More importantly, he lays out a practical roadmap for how producers can move from collecting data to creating measurable improvements in profitability, leadership, and farm performance. Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or already have robots, sensors, and software across your operation, this keynote offers a practical way to think about what comes next. MEET THE HOST Paul Windemuller is a dairy farmer, entrepreneur, Nuffield International Farming Scholar, and host of the AgCulture Podcast. Over the past three years, he has traveled across five continents researching how artificial intelligence is transforming livestock agriculture, visiting hundreds of farms and interviewing producers, researchers, and technology leaders. His work focuses on helping farmers move beyond simply collecting more data to building management systems that improve decision-making, profitability, and long-term resilience. Through his speaking, consulting, and research, Paul challenges agriculture to rethink the relationship between AI, data, leadership, and farm management. 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.

July 29, 2026Episode 3442 min

Farmland, Capital & The Future of Agricultural Investment: with Steve Bruere | Ep. 134

Originally aired as one of our most popular conversations, we're bringing this episode back for a replay. Farmland has become one of the world's most sought-after investment assets—but what actually drives land values, and where is agricultural real estate headed next? In this episode, Paul sits down with Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company, to discuss the forces reshaping agricultural land ownership, capital markets, and investment. Steve shares his perspective on how institutional investors view farmland, why technology is changing the economics of agriculture, and how farmers can think strategically about one of their most valuable assets. Whether you're actively buying land, planning for the next generation, or simply interested in where agricultural investment is heading, this conversation remains just as relevant today as when it first aired. MEET THE GUEST Steve Bruere Steve Bruere is one of agriculture's leading authorities on farmland real estate and serves as President of Peoples Company. With a background in real estate finance from the University of Northern Iowa, Steve has helped grow Peoples Company into a nationally recognized firm specializing in farmland brokerage, management, investment, and appraisal services. He is also the founder of the Land Investment Expo , one of the premier educational events focused on agricultural land ownership, investment, and management, bringing together producers, investors, economists, and industry leaders from across North America. 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.

July 23, 2026Episode 3329 min

What Agtech needs to do to survive AI: with Aidan Connolly | Ep. 133

Artificial intelligence is changing agriculture at an incredible pace—but is it changing AgTech investing? In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul welcomes back Aidan Connolly, one of agriculture's leading technology investors and thought leaders, to discuss what has changed since their last conversation nearly two years ago. As the founder of AgriTech Capital and former executive at Alltech, Aidan brings a unique perspective from both building agricultural businesses and investing in the next generation of AgTech companies. Together, they explore why many startups are struggling to survive despite the AI boom, what investors are really looking for today, and why having great technology is no longer enough. The conversation also dives into competitive moats, data ownership, AI's impact on advisors and nutritionists, and how founders can build companies that actually create lasting value. Whether you're a farmer, startup founder, investor, or simply interested in where agricultural technology is headed, this episode offers an inside look at one of the biggest shifts happening in AgTech today. MEET THE GUEST Aidan Connolly Aidan Connolly is one of agriculture's leading voices on technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation. He is the founder of AgriTech Capital, where he advises investors and AgTech companies on strategy, growth, and emerging technologies. Prior to launching AgriTech Capital, Aidan spent more than two decades at Alltech, helping grow the company from roughly $20 million in annual revenue to more than $2 billion while leading global innovation and corporate development initiatives. Today, Aidan works with startups, venture capital firms, multinational agribusinesses, and producers around the world to identify technologies that will shape the future of food and agriculture. He is a frequent Forbes contributor, international keynote speaker, and one of the industry's most recognized thought leaders on AI, digital agriculture, and innovation. 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.

July 16, 2026Episode 3226 min

Collective Action: Agriculture’s Greatest Competitive Advantage and What It Looks Like for the Future | Ep. 132

Why do farmers—some of the most independent people you'll ever meet—continue to build organizations they own together? In this solo episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul explores one of agriculture's oldest and most misunderstood business models: collective enterprises. Inspired by conversations at a recent conference in New Zealand featuring leaders from Fonterra and several of the country's largest farmer-owned organizations, Paul argues that we've spent too much time asking what a cooperative is, and not enough time asking why farmers keep creating them. The episode unpacks the economic problems that cooperatives were originally designed to solve, why marketing and supply cooperatives exist for fundamentally different reasons, and why successful farmer-owned organizations remain disciplined around a single mission. Paul also introduces a third concept—farmer-owned data infrastructure—and explains why the next generation of collective action in agriculture may not revolve around milk, grain, or fertilizer, but around data. Whether you're a member of a cooperative or simply interested in the future of agriculture, this episode offers a fresh way to think about ownership, strategy, and why some challenges are simply too big for farmers to solve alone. MEET THE HOST Paul Windemuller is a dairy farmer, entrepreneur, Nuffield International Farming Scholar, and host of the AgCulture Podcast. His work focuses on the future of agriculture through the lenses of artificial intelligence, business strategy, farmer ownership, and global innovation.Having studied agricultural systems around the world, Paul is passionate about helping farmers better understand the economic forces shaping their businesses. His mission is to connect technology, people, and practical farming to build a more profitable, resilient, and farmer-led future for agriculture. 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.

July 9, 2026Episode 3132 min

My story on the “AgTech So What”: with Sarah Nolet | Ep. 131

Artificial intelligence is dominating conversations across every industry—but what does it actually mean for farmers? In this special episode, the tables are turned as Paul joins Sarah Nolet, founder of Tenacious Ventures and host of the AgTech So What podcast, to discuss his journey from first-generation dairy farmer to one of agriculture's leading voices on AI and farm data. Paul shares how he built Dream Winds Dairy from the ground up with little capital, why technology became his competitive advantage, and how artificial intelligence is changing the future of livestock production. The conversation also explores one of agriculture's biggest emerging questions: who should own farm data, and how can farmers ensure they benefit from the value AI creates? Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or already investing in new technologies, this episode offers practical advice on preparing your farm for the next generation of agriculture. Listen to the episode now! MEET THE PODCAST AgTech So What is the flagship podcast of Tenacious Ventures, an Australian venture capital firm focused on agrifood technology. Hosted by Sarah Nolet, the show explores the innovations, entrepreneurs, investors, and ideas shaping the future of agriculture. Rather than focusing solely on new technologies, AgTech So What digs into the bigger questions behind adoption—why some innovations succeed while others fail, how technology creates value for farmers, and what it takes to build a more resilient and profitable food system. Through conversations with founders, producers, researchers, investors, and industry leaders from around the world, the podcast has become one of the leading voices covering agtech and agricultural innovation. You can listen to AgTech So What on all major podcast platforms and learn more at https://tenacious.ventures/ 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.

July 2, 2026Episode 3024 min

What George Washington Can Still Teach Farmers 250 Years Later | Ep. 130

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Paul takes a step back from technology and the future to look at one of the most influential agricultural leaders in American history: George Washington. Most people remember Washington as America's first president and the commander of the Continental Army. Few realize that throughout his life, he considered himself first and foremost a farmer. In this solo episode, Paul explores how Washington transformed Mount Vernon into one of the most innovative agricultural operations of the 18th century. Long before modern concepts like soil health, regenerative agriculture, data-driven management, value-added processing, and genetic improvement became common, Washington was experimenting with many of these same ideas. This isn't simply a history lesson. It's a reminder that many of agriculture's biggest challenges—building profitable businesses, improving productivity, caring for the land, managing people, and making better decisions through data—are challenges that have existed since America's founding. As we celebrate 250 years of the United States, this episode looks back at one farmer whose vision helped shape not only a nation, but the future of American agriculture. MEET THE HOST Paul Windemuller is a dairy farmer, entrepreneur, Nuffield International Farming Scholar, and host of the AgCulture Podcast. His work focuses on the future of agriculture through the lens of technology, artificial intelligence, business strategy, and global innovation. Through his travels and research around the world, Paul explores the ideas shaping the next generation of agriculture while also recognizing that many of today's greatest lessons can still be found in history. His mission is to connect innovation, stewardship, and practical farming to help build stronger farms and rural communities for generations to come. 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.

June 25, 2026Episode 2932 min

Beyond the Bulb: with Pieter Hanssen | Ep. 129

When farmers think about improving performance, they typically focus on genetics, nutrition, reproduction, or ventilation. Lighting rarely makes the list. But what if one of the most overlooked management tools on a farm is also one of the most influential? In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Paul sits down with Pieter Hanssen, Global Head of Dairy & Business Development at HATO Lighting, to explore how lighting affects animal behavior, welfare, and performance across livestock systems. Drawing from decades of experience in poultry and livestock facilities around the world, Pieter explains why light should be viewed as a critical part of the animal's environment—not simply a tool that helps people see. The conversation explores circadian rhythms, animal behavior, environmental management, and lessons learned from over 50,000 livestock lighting installations globally. Pieter shares how HATO built its reputation in the poultry industry and why those lessons are now being applied to dairy, swine, and other livestock sectors. If you've never thought of lighting as a management tool, this episode may completely change how you look at your barns. MEET THE GUEST Pieter Hanssen Pieter Hanssen serves as Global Head of Dairy & Business Development for Europe, the United States, and Canada at HATO Lighting, one of the world's leading livestock lighting companies. Originally from the Netherlands, Pieter began his career as an electrician before entering the livestock industry in 2018. His experience spans poultry, dairy, swine, and other livestock sectors across Europe, North America, South Africa, and beyond. At HATO, Pieter works directly with producers, nutritionists, veterinarians, researchers, and industry leaders to better understand how lighting influences animal welfare, behavior, and performance. His work focuses on helping producers leverage lighting as a management tool rather than simply an infrastructure component. Drawing on decades of poultry industry experience and more than 50,000 livestock lighting installations worldwide, Pieter is helping bring precision lighting concepts into new sectors such as dairy and swine production. 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.

June 18, 2026Episode 2819 min

Agriculture Doesn’t Have a Technology Problem: with Paul Windemuller | Ep. 128

Agriculture is surrounded by technology. We have sensors, software, robots, satellites, AI, genetics, automation systems, sustainability platforms, traceability tools, and more data than ever before. Yet across every conference, farm visit, boardroom discussion, and industry conversation, the same challenges continue to surface. In this solo episode, Paul shares observations from dozens of conversations across the agricultural value chain—from farmers and processors to technology companies, researchers, co-ops, and industry leaders. The conclusion may be surprising: agriculture’s biggest challenge isn’t a lack of technology. The real challenge is coordination. Why are farms drowning in data but struggling to find actionable insights? Why do so many promising technologies fail to gain adoption? Why is trust becoming one of the most important forms of infrastructure in agriculture? And why do so many sustainability and technology initiatives struggle to create value for the people actually producing food? This episode explores eight themes that are emerging across global agriculture and argues that the future will belong not to those with the most technology, but to those who can simplify complexity, build trust, align incentives, and create systems that actually work for farmers. Listen to the episode now! MEET THE HOST Paul Windemuller is a dairy farmer, entrepreneur, Nuffield International Farming Scholar, and host of the AgCulture Podcast. His work focuses on the intersection of agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, and farm business strategy.Over the past several years, Paul has traveled extensively throughout North America, South America, Europe, Oceania, and beyond studying how technology is reshaping livestock agriculture. Through his Nuffield research on artificial intelligence in the global dairy industry, he has interviewed farmers, researchers, processors, technology developers, and industry leaders to better understand where agriculture is headed next.His mission is to help agriculture adopt innovation in ways that create real value for farmers while strengthening the connection between technology, people, animals, and the land. 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.