Episode 15: Interview with Kerwin Bradley, CPO of Black Gold Farms

7/2/2024: 15th Episode of my Ag Uncensored Podcast

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Opening Thoughts:

Back at it again and after a little break from a much needed vacation and also delayed just catching up from being gone from that (we all know that feeling). What’s also sort of a funny coincidence is that my guest grew up right nearby where my vacation actually occurred in Glacier National Park.

Also, I put together a simpler podcast before this that was just me talking and bitching about CLUs (common land units) if you didn’t catch it right after my trip. Check it out here. You’ll learn something and probably become a little angry about it too…

Anyway, this one was a little different, but I really enjoyed the conversation. While I’ve tried to get some of my older AgTech colleagues on here and do have plenty coming, sometimes other things come up and new opportunities arise. This weeks episode is just that, different from what my general plan was before, but also totally legit in the scheme of things.

A few weeks back at the Cultivate Conference in Fargo my local area I never met or knew who Kerwin was, but he was one of the speakers at the event. The plan was to actually interview a few others while there as it was local, though the chaos of the week didn’t really allow that.

Why this one I feel is interesting is that Kerwin is from a different world in Ag I don’t know much about and I feel many also don’t and that’s in the world of Potatoes. Black Gold Farms is one of the premier Potato farms in the world I’d say (if you’ve eating Fritos they are them more or less) so yeah, a big deal.

This is one thing I think I’ll explore more in talking to some others outside the AgTech world directly and more of the ones involved indirectly to get there takes. Plus it’s a nice educational experience. It’s a win win really.

So while this one is a little different and it’s not very AgTech based like my background along with others I know, it’s a good way to center ones knowledge of Ag as a whole and I hope you’ll enjoy this one and learn something you didn’t know before. That really is the main goal.

Keep reading for more!

Here is the Summary:

Kerwin's journey from a wheat farm in Montana to leading roles in major ag companies is quite intersting when you get into it. We delved into his fascinating career, the intricate world of potato farming, and the innovative strides being made in agricultural sustainability.

From Montana to Disney: A Unique Path in Agriculture

Kerwin's background is as varied as it is impressive. Growing up on a dryland wheat farm in Montana provided him with a solid foundation in agriculture. His education in biological engineering further fueled his passion for the field, leading him to unique opportunities, including a dream job at Walt Disney World. “I grew up in Montana on a dryland wheat farm just east of Glacier National Park,” he recounted. “My first job was at Walt Disney World, working as an engineer at Epcot. We had a sustainable agricultural show called The Land Pavilion.”

Agricultural Influences: Family and Beyond

A significant influence on Kerwin’s career was his aunt, who worked in agriculture and inspired his interest in the field. “My aunt was a big part of why I got into agriculture. She worked in the industry and always shared stories about her experiences. It really sparked my curiosity and passion for farming,” Kerwin shared. This family connection helped shape his dedication to the agricultural sector.

The Complex World of Potato Farming

Potato farming is not for the faint-hearted. Kerwin highlighted the numerous challenges that come with growing this staple crop, from dealing with pests and diseases to managing the high perishability of potatoes. “Everything out there wants to eat a potato. It can be fungi, bacteria, nematodes, deer, all kinds of insects,” he explained. Potatoes are highly perishable, meaning the yield can drop from excellent to zero if diseases are not managed properly. He elaborated on the importance of meticulous care: "The downside consequence is like I said, it's zero, right? You can go from having a really valuable crop to having no value because I didn't spend $40 an acre on something that I should have."

Why Potatoes Are Different

Unlike other crops like corn or soybeans, potatoes have unique requirements and challenges that set them apart. Kerwin pointed out several differences:

• Perishability: Potatoes are incredibly perishable, both in the field and during transportation. “Sometimes they perish between the field and the destination. You know, we can get them out of the ground at times, but if the potato crop isn't healthy and isn't able to withstand the transportation from the farm to the store or the manufacturing plant, you know, they'll perish on the way.”

• Intensive Care: Potato farming requires frequent interventions, such as fungicide applications to prevent disease outbreaks. “If disease shows up there, it'll just spread like wildfire. So you have to spray everything.”

• Quality Over Quantity: For potatoes, especially those destined for potato chips, quality is often more critical than yield. Kerwin mentions, “You can't think of it that way. There are similarities to edible beans too and other crops where there's certain things that just don't work the way that the Ag tech community thinks of.”

• Sustainability Challenges: Practices like no-till farming, common in other crops, are not feasible for potatoes due to the need to till the ground. He adds, “For potatoes, you can't no-till sort of by definition because you have to put them in the ground, right?”

Adopting Sustainable Practices

Sustainability in agriculture is more than just a buzzword; it's a necessity. Kerwin discussed how Black Gold Farms is leveraging the latest in science and technology to improve both productivity and sustainability. “We are leveraging the latest and greatest science, the latest and greatest agronomy,” he said. However, the road to sustainable farming is fraught with challenges, particularly when it comes to implementing and measuring the impact of new technologies. “It's hard to run trials. If a yield difference is less than about a 10% impact on yield, it’s very hard to actually measure it.”

The Role of Technology: Challenges and Opportunities

Technology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture, but its implementation is often easier said than done. Kerwin emphasized the need for practical, easy-to-use solutions that don’t require extensive technical support. “Our people are all really busy. If I need to spend extra time in the day calibrating that sensor and then checking its output, it's hard to create bandwidth in order to get that work done,” he noted. The key is to find technologies that genuinely add value and are feasible to integrate into existing farm operations.

Black Gold Farms and Frito Lay: A Tasty Partnership

A significant portion of Black Gold Farms' potatoes ends up in Frito Lay products, particularly potato chips. “We grow about 15,000 acres of Irish potatoes, primarily for making potato chips,” Kerwin explained. This partnership is vital as it connects the farm's produce directly to a major consumer brand, highlighting the importance of quality and consistency in their farming practices.

The Future of Agriculture: Collaboration is Key

Looking ahead, the future of agriculture lies in collaboration and innovation. Kerwin stressed the importance of working together with land partners, tech providers, and other stakeholders to address sustainability and productivity challenges. “What we do and how we do it matters a lot. It’s a big part of our job,” he said. Understanding the specific needs of different crops and regions is essential for developing effective solutions.

Key Takeaways:

1. Introduction and Kerwin's Background (00:01)

   • Nathan introduces Kerwin Bradley, who shares his journey from a dryland wheat farm in Montana to working at Walt Disney World and eventually leading potato production at Black Gold Farms.

2. Early Career at Walt Disney World (00:58)

   • Kerwin discusses his dream job at Walt Disney World, working as an engineer in The Land Pavilion, where sustainable agriculture was showcased to park guests.

3. Transition to Frito Lay and Potato Expertise (02:51)

   • Kerwin talks about his role at Frito Lay, working in potato development and leading supply chain innovation for raw materials, emphasizing the challenges of potato farming.

4. Challenges in Potato Farming (04:26)

   • Kerwin details the complexities of growing potatoes, including high perishability and vulnerability to pests and diseases, which require constant vigilance and advanced practices.

5. Importance of Quality and Sustainable Practices (08:31)

   • Nathan and Kerwin discuss the critical focus on quality in potato production for potato chips and the sustainable practices employed at Black Gold Farms to ensure high standards.

6. Unique Challenges of Potato Farming (10:55)

   • Kerwin explains why potato farming is different from other crops, highlighting the need for frequent interventions, the perishability of potatoes, and the emphasis on quality over yield.

7. Biologicals and Measuring Impact (15:10)

   • Kerwin shares insights into the use of biological inputs in potato farming, the challenges of measuring their impact, and the difficulty of running effective trials due to field variability.

8. Partnership with Frito Lay (19:21)

   • Kerwin emphasizes the importance of the partnership with Frito Lay, discussing how the perception and marketing of potatoes impact their farming practices and customer relations.

9. Technology and Bandwidth Challenges (41:25)

   • Kerwin and Nathan talk about the challenges of implementing new technologies on the farm, the need for practical solutions that do not require extensive technical support, and the difficulty in calculating the value of new tech.

10. Sustainability and Future Growth (01:09:57)

    • Kerwin discusses the future of agriculture, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and the importance of sustainability. He stresses the need for the industry to anticipate and adapt to changing customer demands and environmental challenges.

Watch and Listen:

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Closing Thoughts:

Well if you are still reading this after watching then I’m guessing you likely learned something new about potatoes. I also get this is just a different type of episode too and might not relate to all the people that follow me. It is what it is, but I liked it and make me think more on how we all need to just learn more about other parts of Ag to really understand how it all works and what it means especially in my world of tech in Ag.

Probably some of the biggest thing that came out of this for me was thinking a little more on the niche crops and as I talked about in this the in-between ones. Not super speciality, but not commodity either. There is alot of that around and many of those crops impact the food supply and what you eat more directly than most think. We can’t forget about these crops and the people that grow and manage them. They might also have the biggest opportunity for innovation that can actually matter on many fronts from CPGs, to processors, to farmers and consumers themselves.

Not everything should be about the main commodities or just with robots that weed lettuce crops as it feels (I know it’s not, just yes a general feeling). So many other types are being semi forgotten in the main media and I think it’s time to dive deeper.

Get ready for some other semi-specialty crops I’ll be talking about in the future.

Thanks again everyone for watching, listening, and reading!