Nearly twenty years later, DOSE Manufacturing has grown into a 45-person manufacturing company producing premium agricultural equipment, including Headhunter head trailers, Freedom all-wheel-steer trailers, sprayer accessories, rock boxes, fertilizer equipment, and large LED display trailers used across the country.

In this episode, Brett walks through that incredible journey and shares the lessons learned along the way.

The conversation includes:

• How DOSE Manufacturing got its start
• Why Brett stopped repairing equipment and began manufacturing products
• Building the first Headhunter trailer
• Growing from Perry to Bouton and eventually transforming the Story City outlet mall into a manufacturing facility
• Product development through customer feedback
• Engineering equipment for today's larger combines and headers
• Building products for agriculture and the entertainment industry
• The importance of dealer relationships
• Hiring employees and growing a company culture
• Lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, and customer service
• Why "people buy from people"

Brett also discusses how listening to customers has driven continuous innovation, why quality always wins over the cheapest price, and how every challenge has helped create better products.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Email address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.com

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After touring the Hagie Manufacturing facility in Clarion, Iowa, Corey Hillebo and his father, Scott Hillebo, reflect on their family's long history with Hagie sprayers and how technology has transformed their farming operation.

Scott shares the story of purchasing his first Hagie STS10 in 2009, using a detasseling cutter to help justify the investment, and eventually progressing through multiple Hagie models as the farm's needs evolved. The conversation highlights how the farm transitioned from using a sprayer primarily for crop protection to utilizing it as a critical management tool for fertility, nitrogen applications, fungicides, foliar feeding, and late-season crop management.

The father-son duo discusses:

• Scott's history owning three Hagie sprayers
• How detasseling helped support the original investment
• The evolution from early STS models to today's technology-packed machines
• ExactApply and its impact on application accuracy and efficiency
• First impressions of John Deere's See & Spray technology
• Why timing matters more than ever in modern crop production
• Using Y-Drops and spoon-feeding nitrogen
• Fungicide and foliar application opportunities later in the growing season
• How a high-clearance sprayer influences agronomic decision-making
• The benefits of controlling application timing in-house
• What stood out most during the Hagie factory tour
• The unique culture of Hagie Manufacturing and its continued focus on craftsmanship
• The partnership between Hagie and John Deere
• The future of precision spraying technology

This episode offers a real-world farmer perspective on how equipment investments can influence management decisions, improve efficiency, and create opportunities to capture additional yield through better timing and precision.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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Joining the show are Raymond Chung, founder and CEO of AcreHedge, Chief Technology Officer Todd Larson, and Chief Media Officer (and returning guest) Zoe Kent. Together they explain how prediction markets work, why they're gaining popularity, and how they could eventually become another valuable tool alongside crop insurance and traditional marketing strategies.

Ray shares how his background on Wall Street combined with years operating one of the nation's largest edamame processing businesses led him to create AcreHedge. Todd explains how modern AI accelerated development of the platform while maintaining enterprise-level quality, and Zoe discusses using her own farming operation as the first public market on AcreHedge.

The discussion covers:

• What prediction markets actually are—and what they are not
• How "wisdom of the crowd" often produces remarkably accurate forecasts
• Why prediction markets differ from sports betting or casino gambling
• Filling risk management gaps left by traditional crop insurance
• Weather, disease, commodity price, acreage, and yield-related markets
• Real-world examples using New World Screwworm, corn prices, and USDA acreage reports
• How farmers can use markets to express opinions while managing financial risk
• AI's growing role in agriculture and software development
• Why agriculture deserves specialized prediction markets built by people who understand farming

The group also has plenty of fun discussing edamame, Skittles, weather forecasting, rock picking, farm influencers, and brainstorming future prediction markets that could keep both farmers and agriculture enthusiasts engaged.

Whether you're interested in grain marketing, crop insurance, technology, finance, or simply enjoy learning about innovative ideas shaping agriculture, this episode offers an early look at what could become an entirely new category of farm risk management.

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Website: www.Farm4Profit.com

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In this Farm4Fun episode, Zach Hefty and multi-time Farm4Profit favorite Tony Reed return to the show to preview the upcoming Ag PhD Field Day while sharing honest updates on one of the most challenging growing seasons many farmers have experienced.

The conversation begins with spring planting struggles, including Tony's incredible 15-plus inches of rainfall, multiple rounds of replanting, and fields ranging from freshly planted corn to chest-high corn—all within the same operation. Meanwhile, Zach discusses the opposite challenge in South Dakota: dry conditions and hoping for timely rains before Field Day.

The discussion then shifts to Ag PhD Field Day and what has made it one of agriculture's biggest educational experiences.

Topics include:

• Why Ag PhD Field Day is completely free to attend
• Research plots showcasing the latest agronomic practices
• Hands-on demonstrations with new equipment and technology
• High-yield farmer presentations from across North America
• "Crazy Trials" that test unconventional farming ideas
• Opportunities to interact with leading agricultural content creators
• Product demonstrations and ride-and-drive experiences
• Why education—not sales—is the focus of the event
• The logistics behind feeding more than 10,000 attendees
• Building an event that combines education, networking, and entertainment

The episode also includes plenty of laughs as the crew discusses anniversary gifts, old farm trucks, Cameo videos, Beater with a Heater, weather forecasting, and Tony Reed's legendary podcast appearances.

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In this What's Working in Ag segment, Tanner and Mikaya Spires from Spray Drone Network join Farm4Profit to explain how their platform is helping connect growers with qualified, licensed drone applicators across the country. What started as a simple question—"How do I find a reliable spray drone operator?"—has quickly grown into a nationwide network serving farmers, applicators, dealers, and industry professionals.

The discussion covers:

• How Spray Drone Network was created
• The rapid growth of spray drone applications across agriculture
• Why licensing and professionalism matter
• What farmers should ask before hiring a drone applicator
• The difference between being a drone pilot and being a professional applicator
• Finding qualified operators by location and application type
• Cover crops, fungicides, herbicides, specialty crops, and more
• The business side of running a drone application operation
• New opportunities for young entrepreneurs entering agriculture
• Education, training, and community-building within the drone industry
• The role of technology, software, and logistics in successful drone operations

Tanner and Mikaya also discuss the challenges facing new operators, including equipment setup, application knowledge, chemical handling, business management, and customer expectations. Their mission is simple: help grow the spray drone industry while ensuring farmers have access to trustworthy and qualified operators.

Whether you're a farmer looking for aerial application options, a custom applicator considering drones, or someone curious about the future of precision agriculture, this episode provides an inside look at one of the fastest-growing segments in ag technology.

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The conversation explores the often-unseen world of product testing, field validation, software development, and farmer feedback that goes into launching new technology. Jared shares his unique role as a product tester, explaining how Ag Leader evaluates new products before they ever reach a customer's farm and how real-world farmer feedback helps shape final product decisions.

The group discusses:

• What ZRow is and how it improves corn head guidance during harvest
• Why row guidance still matters in a world of RTK and precision GPS
• How Ag Leader integrates with existing row sensing systems
• The product testing process from concept to commercial launch
• Ag Leader's internal "hackathon" innovation program
• Common challenges encountered during product development
• How farmer cooperators help validate new technology
• The evolution of precision agriculture since Ag Leader's yield monitor origins
• Why user interface and simplicity matter just as much as technology
• The importance of data collection and data utilization
• How AgFiniti connectivity is changing support and decision-making
• The future of autonomy, machine guidance, and precision farming
• Why today's successful producers must embrace innovation and continuous improvement

Beyond the technology discussion, the episode delivers a bigger message about modern agriculture: farms can no longer rely on "the way we've always done it." As margins tighten and operations become more complex, the producers who effectively leverage data, technology, and decision-making tools will be best positioned for long-term success.

Whether you're a technology enthusiast, an early adopter, or simply curious about how new precision ag tools are developed, this episode offers a fascinating look behind the scenes at one of agriculture's most influential technology companies.

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In this Farm4Fun episode, the crew is joined by North Dakota farmer and social media creator Beet Farmin’ Mitch, along with Arts Way's Jim Cronk, for a deep dive into the world of sugar beet production.

Mitch shares the story of his family's six-generation farming operation in the Red River Valley, where they grow sugar beets, wheat, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and edible beans. He explains how sugar beets are planted, managed, harvested, stored, and ultimately processed into the table sugar Americans use every day.

The conversation covers:

• The history of Mitch's family farm dating back to an 1800s wagon train from Iowa to North Dakota
• What makes sugar beets different from traditional row crops
• How sugar beet seed is produced and planted
• Disease, insect, and fertility management in sugar beet production
• The unique harvest process involving defoliators, lifters, and pilers
• Why sugar beet harvest becomes a 24-hour operation
• How sugar beets are stored through North Dakota winters
• The role of American Crystal Sugar Cooperative
• Sugar beet pricing, quotas, and marketing
• Why sugar policy matters to American farmers
• The difference between beet sugar and cane sugar
• The challenges facing today's sugar industry
• Social media, agriculture advocacy, and telling agriculture's story

Listeners will also hear about the specialized equipment used during harvest, including Arts Way sugar beet harvesters and defoliators, along with some entertaining stories about sugar beet crews, harvest culture, and life in the Red River Valley.

Whether you're a farmer, consumer, or simply curious about where sugar comes from, this episode delivers a fun and educational look at one of agriculture's most misunderstood crops.

Most importantly, Mitch shares how faith, family, and farming continue to guide both his operation and his mission to educate consumers about modern agriculture.

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Relationships still matter.

In this episode of What’s Working in Ag, Tanner sits down with TJ Roemmich, Chief Credit Officer at Conterra Ag Capital and employee number one at the company, to discuss how successful farmers position themselves for growth, how lenders evaluate risk, and what producers can do when finances become challenging.

TJ shares insights from more than a decade helping producers navigate farm real estate lending and explains why strong financial records, clear communication, and trusted relationships remain critical in today’s agricultural economy. While technology continues to change the way business gets done, agriculture is still a people business where face-to-face conversations and long-term partnerships create opportunities.

Topics include:

• Why relationships continue to be one of the most valuable assets in agriculture
• How Conterra approaches lending and farm financing
• Common reasons farmers receive loan denials
• Practical ways to improve a financing application
• The importance of accurate financial statements and strong recordkeeping
• How producers can turn a “no” into a future “yes”
• Managing working capital and controlling fixed costs
• Current farmland market trends across different regions
• Why quality farmland continues to outperform weaker properties
• Beginning farmer financing opportunities through USDA and FSA programs
• Advice for young and beginning producers looking to build their operations
• The role of trusted advisors, CPAs, and financial planning in farm success

Whether you’re preparing for your first operating note, considering a land purchase, or simply looking to strengthen your farm’s financial position, this conversation offers practical advice that can help producers make better business decisions and position themselves for long-term success.

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