AgEmerge Podcast 166 Grok Artificial Intelligence Interviews Monte Bottens

Grok, created by xAI, turns the mic on Monte Bottens, a 5th generation Ill. farmer, entrepreneur, and visionary behind Bottens Family Farm, Ag Solutions Network, and Grateful Graze.

*** Show notes and Links ***

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Care for more AI in farming, watch this episode with Dr. Sivam Krish: https://youtu.be/mbWIsKGSmzQ

Ag Solutions Network Socials:
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https://www.facebook.com/ASN.farm
https://www.linkedin.com/company/agsolutionsnetwork
https://twitter.com/POWER2GRO
https://www.instagram.com/agsolutionsnetwork/

Ag Solutions Network website:
https://www.agsolutionsnetwork.com/

Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast?
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Monte shares his journey from raising pigs in 4-H to building a diverse operation rooted in regenerative agriculture, blending Midwest traditions with California’s crop diversity. He discusses the pivotal moments—like seeing Gabe Brown’s soil organic matter gains—that drove Monte’s shift to soil health principles, the challenges of overcoming conventional farming’s cookie-cutter mindset, and his frustration with the industry’s resistance to change.

Monte’s vision for the future is bold: transitioning to organic systems, prioritizing perennials, and using technology like precision ag to scale regenerative practices for large-scale farmers. This conversation is packed with raw honesty, practical wisdom, and a call to rethink farming for soil and community health.

Monte also offers actionable advice for young farmers: find a niche, leverage local markets, and don’t fear failure. From cover crop mishaps to mid-season equipment fixes, his stories of trial and error inspire listeners to embrace innovation and build strong teams. Whether you’re a farmer, researcher, or innovator, Monte’s insights on overcoming fear, learning from mistakes, and aligning with nature’s design will leave you fired up to push the needle forward for sustainable farming.

And, if you’re as excited as we are about the future of agriculture, check out our website at asn.farm and there you can click on links to follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Rumble, Linkedin, and YouTube. There’s a lot of great things happening and always something to learn.