Record Crowd Gathers at Precision Farming Dealer Summit

Following a highly successful, first-ever Precision Farming Dealer Summit last year, the encore 2017 Summit once again attracted a sold-out crowd of diverse dealers to network, learn and share ideas for improving the success and profitability of their precision farming business.

Featuring a speaker lineup that included 13 leading dealer groups representing more than $750 million in annual revenue, the event held this week at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Hotel drew a sold out crowd of 196 precision farming professionals from more than 50 different dealerships across 27 states, as well as Canada and Australia.

During a focused 2-day program consisting of dealer-to-dealer roundtables sessions, panel presentations, general sessions, and intense networking opportunities, attendees discovered actionable ideas to evolve and improve the way they sell, service and support precision technology.

Built on the theme of Proven Business Blueprints, Precision Farming Dealer managing editor Jack Zemlicka noted  that many farm equipment dealers have the same questions when it comes to making money with their precision business: "Dealers agree that there are multiple pathways to precision profitability, but knowing which direction to take is a shared challenge," Zemlicka says. "Having set a high standard for delivering a collaborative learning environment at the 2016 Summit, this year's event by all accounts exceeded attendee expectations and provided them with the blueprints they need to grow their precision businesses."

Among the highlights of the 2017 Precision Farming Dealer Summit was a unique panel presentation during which two tech-savvy farmers offered “call it like they see it” perspectives on their biggest challenges with integrating precision to their farming operations; as well as two sets of concurrent dealer roundtable sessions that offered face-to-face opportunities to ask questions, discuss challenges and share solutions to pressing precision problems.

Conversations spanned the spectrum of fundamental (hiring and retaining top precision talent) to futuristic (autonomous technology's role in the future of precision farming), and attendees cited immediate takeaways and newfound precision allies before heading home. From the single-location independent dealer to the multi-store farm equipment retailer, from the veteran precision ag manager to the newly hired specialist, the discussion of precision challenges and trading of solutions were in abundance.

For more information on the 2017 Precision Farming Dealer Summit, visit PrecisionSummit.com. A recap of the Summit, including key session takeaways, will be featured in the Winter Edition of Precision Farming Dealer coming this February.