Delivering Next-Generation Tools to Farmer-Owners
Farmward Cooperative is proud to announce its participation in AgRogue Growth Partners, a new initiative designed to accelerate the development and delivery of breakthrough agricultural technologies — with farmer-owners at the heart of the mission.
As public funding for agricultural research continues to decline, Farmward Cooperative is stepping up to ensure its farmer-owners remain equipped with the most advanced tools available. Through AgRogue Growth Partners, Farmward joins Land O’Lakes, Inc., Radicle Growth, and a coalition of ag retailers nationwide to identify, fund, and scale innovations that solve real challenges in the field.
“This is about putting our farmer-owners first,” said John Husk, CEO of Farmward Cooperative. “We’re investing in technologies that improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability — not years from now, but today. Whether it’s precision ag tools, next-gen crop inputs, or smarter supply chain solutions, our goal is to give farmers early access to innovations that make a difference in their operations.”
Managed by Radicle Growth, a global ag tech investment firm, the platform will evaluate startups poised to reshape agriculture. Farmward and its partners combined will invest up to $7 million in each of 10–15 companies, focusing on solutions that directly benefit farmers — from data-driven decision tools to new business models that reduce risk and increase efficiency.
Through this initiative, Farmward Cooperative will:
-
Bring cutting-edge technologies directly to the farmers’ hands, giving farmer-owners a first look at innovations before they hit the mainstream. -
Collaborate with other cooperatives to test and validate solutions in real-world conditions, ensuring they deliver measurable value.
-
Drive farmer-led innovation, using local insights to guide investment decisions and accelerate adoption.
“Farmers are the original innovators,” Husk added. “This partnership ensures they stay ahead of the curve, with access to tools that are not only new — but proven, practical, and profitable.”
Brett Bruggeman, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Ag Business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., emphasized the importance of local trust in driving adoption:
“Right now, we’re seeing a wave of necessary innovation stall before it reaches the farm gate — often lacking the local trust and infrastructure needed to succeed. As one of the largest farmer- and retailer-owned cooperatives in the U.S., we know our retail-owners are uniquely positioned to bridge that gap and get proven innovation into farmers’ hands faster.”
By leveraging the trust and relationships built over generations, Farmward is helping bridge the gap between promising ag tech and the farmers who need it most.