#USA #Agriculture #farming #Ceres AI #Blue Mound

Intercontinental Exchange in Agriculture

In a year where unpredictability has taken center stage in the agriculture sector, one irrefutable truth has emerged: innovation and invaluable insights frequently originate directly from the farmers' fields. Ceres AI took proactive steps to facilitate meaningful discussions this fall, uniting prominent agricultural leaders from both North and South America at a farm in Illinois. This dynamic gathering aimed to exchange ideas around farm management practices, technology adoption, and the future of agriculture.

Connecting Farmers Across Continents

The event spotlighted two established partners of Ceres AI: Jeff Brown from Brown Farms in Illinois and Carl Deane's team from Servisur, Bolivia. Together, they engaged in an immersive farm exchange, focusing on crucial subjects such as machinery, management techniques, data analysis, and the anticipated risks in agriculture.

The visit unfolded on the expansive premises of Brown Farms, where Jeff Brown oversees a multi-county row crop operation with his collaborators near Blue Mound, Illinois. Vince Reincke, co-owner of Agriculture Partners LLC and Jeff's long-standing farm ally, participated actively in the discussions. While another key partner, Aaron Gingerich from Gingerich Farms, was unable to attend, his contributions significantly influenced the data-driven strategies employed at Brown Farms.

With Carl Deane, the Servisur CEO, present alongside his operations and agronomy leaders, the teams aimed to share best practices from their respective regions, probing how technology could yield more resilient and profitable farming outcomes.

Open Conversations and Knowledge Sharing

The exchange began at Jeff's machinery workshop and progressed through grain storage facilities before culminating in an open dialogue over lunch. Jeff emphasized the importance of candid discussions, stating, "We didn’t hold anything back. We talked about what's working, what's not, and where tech can give us an edge. But more than anything, we just listened to each other. Turns out, farming at scale in Bolivia isn't all that different from farming in Illinois when you're both trying to make it work in tough economic conditions.”

Carl Deane echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of Ceres AI's initiative. He remarked, “This visit gave us confidence that Ceres is really trying to understand growers and the issues they care about. It’s one thing to talk about data; it’s another to walk fields together, ask questions, and discuss margins.”

Throughout the day, the dialogue spanned a wide range of topics, from soil health and crop insurance to management decisions that can significantly impact profitability. Despite differing climates and agricultural scales, both teams were able to find common ground in their approaches to data—how it’s captured, shared, and its role in managing risk.

Kirk Stueve, the Chief Agronomy Officer at Ceres AI, reflected on the importance of trust in these exchanges. He noted, “Carl's team flew halfway across the world to attend the Farm Progress Show and tour one of the best row crop operations in the U.S. Such visits only happen when mutual curiosity, trust, and the intent to learn from each other exists.”

Looking Towards the Future

This visit marks an essential milestone in Ceres AI's ongoing collaboration with Servisur and growers across the Americas. The partnership laid groundwork for future initiatives, including a potential reciprocal tour in Bolivia in 2026, fostering a robust international community focused on smart, sustainable agricultural practices.

Additionally, these discussions build on strategic conversations with partners such as Munich Re, as all stakeholders across the agricultural value chain seek scalable solutions to enhance underwriting accuracy, decrease exposure, and increase transparency for both farmers and insurers.

Key Takeaways

• - U.S. and South American farmers exchanged strategies and risk insights.
• - Ceres AI reinforced its role as a trusted connector across geographies.
• - Technology was viewed not merely as a sales tool but as a pivotal factor for profit and resilience.
• - There is strong interest in replicating the exchange in Bolivia in 2026.

About Ceres AI

Ceres AI is an agricultural intelligence firm dedicated to assisting growers, land managers, and financial services in establishing more profitable and sustainable operations. Utilizing over 17 billion plant-level measurements across 32 million acres, Ceres provides actionable insights to reduce risk, enhance efficiency, and safeguard yields. For more information, visit ceres.ai.