Ag Solutions Network

03/17/2026

What began as a crop-share arrangement opened the door for James Hepp to farm full time. Today, James operates his own crop insurance agency, manages about 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and small grains as a first-generation farmer. Give AgEmerge Podcast 183 a watch or listen to hear James and Monte Bottens discuss getting into farming differently with success.

Rockwell City native James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. So how did he get to be farming thousands o...

03/16/2026

“Oftentimes we’re told we feed the world and it’s all about bushels, all these kind of standard themes from the industrial ag complex,” he says. “And, the reality is that isn’t what our customer wants. Being aware of where these trends are heading, how do we be better prepared today to adopt and meet those trends in the future?” - Monte Bottens

A fifth-generation Illinois farmer says no-till is not enough to build soil health and encourages growers to consider more regenerative practices. Monte Bottens tells Brownfield he turned to no-till in the 1990s as a way to save time and money, but wanted to push the system to do more. “We integra...

03/13/2026

What happens when machinery is scaled down and autonomous? Salin247 founder Dave Krog and Monte Bottens talk through it all on AgEmerge Podcast 183.

This Week's Lineup: Replacing Massive Equipment with Small-Scale Autonomy Tagging Along with a Case IH Precision Specialist Independent Dealer Gets Autonomy Crash Course Precision Panel: Farmers Share Their See & Spray Numbers 4 Economic Models Redefining Ag Retail

03/12/2026

Whenever Liz Haney has something to share, you listen. Find her recent post on LinkedIn about nitrogen and dig deep through AgEmerge Podcast episodes 173 and 174 to learn more as Liz breaks down the Haney Soil Test with Monte Bottens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbleiHQ5ew

03/10/2026

James Hepp, a native of Rockwell City, Iowa, dreamed of becoming a farmer—but without family land or direct connections, that felt nearly impossible.
So how did this first-generation farmer end up managing thousands of acres today, while also serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner?

Tune in to hear his story of perseverance, innovation, and conservation on AgEmerge Podcast Episode 183 with host Monte Bottens.

Rockwell City native James Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. So how did he get to be farming thousands o...

03/09/2026

The 2026 Conservation Tillage & Technology Conference set in Ada, OH, kicks off this week. The annual gathering features ASN CEO Monte Bottens as keynote speaker, and more than 60 presenters covering soil health, precision agriculture and farm management strategies.

Annual agricultural event features keynote speaker Monte Bottens and sessions on soil health, precision farming and management.

03/06/2026

We know how tough it feels right now. Input costs are high, commodity prices are unpredictable, and every purchase decision weighs heavier than it used to.

But here’s what we’ve learned from farming families across the country: The decisions you make today don’t just affect this season — they shape the next 5, 10, and 20 years of your operation.

Our dealer network is here to help you take the next right step — the one that fits your farm, your timeline, and your goals.
You don’t have to figure it out alone. We're here for the long haul.

03/04/2026

Imagine autonomous equipment that transforms productivity, reduces costs, and addresses soil health like never before. In AgEmerge Podcast Episode 182, David Krog—founder of Salin247— shows how farmers can replace massive, soil-compacting machinery with sleek, small-scale autonomous tools designed to work around the clock without a single operator.

Imagine autonomous equipment that transforms productivity, reduces costs, and addresses soil health like never before. In this episode, Dave Krog—founder of ...

03/03/2026

Kiss The Ground is showing in Aledo, IL tonight. Join Monte Bottens, Ag Solutions Network and Grateful Graze teams.

02/27/2026

"One Farmer, One File’ prevents our farmers from duplicating tasks while increases their productivity and time in the field.”' - US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

The “One Farmer, One File” initiative is part of a broad modernization effort to unify all FSA, NRCS and RMA systems. This uniformed system will retire legacy systems and remove agency silos. U.S. Department of Agriculture began work on this system in 2025 and plans to greatly advance the effort in 2026. USDA anticipates completing the project in 2028.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Today [Feb. 26, 2026] at the Commodity Classic Convention in San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced...

02/26/2026

With planting prep kicking off across the country, you don't need a complete overhaul—just take the next right step. At Ag Solutions Network, we guide growers through all five soil health principles (minimize disturbance, maximize cover, keep living roots, build diversity, and integrate animals where it fits) so you can build healthier soil, better resilience, and more rewarding results—while making farming fun again.

What's one small change you're considering this season? Drop it below—our dealer network is here to help make it happen.

Ag Solutions Network provides guidance, equipment experience and farming know-how with a soil health approach. We offer crop nutrition including macro, micro and biological products that work with soil biology to improve soil health, crop health, livestock health and human health, while reducing the...

02/24/2026

What if smaller equipment is better? Dave Krog, founder of Salin247 talks with Monte Bottens about approaching soil health with autonomous equipment in AgEmerge Podcast 182. Watch this clip and catch the whole episode on YouTube and your favorite audio platform.

Imagine autonomous equipment that transforms productivity, reduces costs, and addresses soil health like never before. In this episode, Dave Krog—founder of ...