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> Most farmers are not that tech savvy. This is just not true, or, at least, it's only true where inefficient farming practises are propped up by subsidies and
by polemic 14y ago
> Most farmers are not that tech savvy.
This is just not true, or, at least, it's only true where inefficient farming practises are propped up by subsidies and protectionism.
A modern farm is a hot-bed of innovation and my initial thoughts about FarmLog is that they're far far too late to the game. This was already discussed at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5118984 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5118984 but I'll duplicate my comment here:
"So, the problem with the SaaS model is that selling to farmers is a lot like selling to a demanding enterprise customer. They know what they want, they have specific requirements and the benefits of a well-matched solution will pay for itself. That isn't, generally, where you want to be if you're looking to scale out a SaaS platform."
- bluetidepro 14y agoAs mentioned below, I rephrased it. They are not internet tech savvy, in my experience.
- polemic 14y agoHang on. You're saying they are tech savvy, but not internet savvy. If you are right (and I disagree that they're 'not internet savvy') then you've identified an opportunity, not a blocker.
- bluetidepro 14y agoWith my experience, they are tech savvy in the sense of technology, but they are pretty anti-internet and don't trust a lot of apps and such on the web. For example, this Farmlogs site. For this companies sake, I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just going with what I know on my 2 cents here. And from what I see constantly from that culture, from a first hand view, is that they would never take an app like this serious (especially at that kind of monetary cost).
- bluetidepro 14y agoThe point gaius is saying above is exactly what I'm trying to bring across, but in a different phrasing. I just don't think it [Farmlogs] will be something they want/like to use.
- jauer 14y agoThrough my work at a ISP that serves a lot of farmers I'd have to disagree depending on what you mean by "internet tech savvy". I haven't run across any that sling code in their spare time but other than that, watch out! I know of multiple groups (usually extended families) that have microwave radio links between their farms. They use this to monitor each-other's grain bins, crops, and security cameras. Not to mention WiFi To The Tractor for monitoring, IM, etc. There's no cell coverage so they find a way to get connectivity. I'd call that pretty internet tech savvy. This is a large enough market that there's a company that essentially rebrands Ubiquiti radios, marks them up 100%, and markets them through farm magazines. I suppose in a way that's arbitrage on ignorance BUT it shows that there's a need.