Episode 34: Putting Ag Innovation to the Test
Season 5
Episode 34
October 20, 2026
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Show Notes
With so much new technology entering the market, how do we figure out what’s actually helpful?
This week, we’re coming to you from Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Innovation Farm in Champaign, Illinois. Dr. Karl Wyant joins Thaddeus Bates, senior manager of the Innovation Farm Network, to explore how the farms put new equipment, products and practices to the test.
Hear how grower needs shape their work, why taking research from small plots to commercial acres matters and what research at the speed of farming looks like in practice. At the heart of their approach is building on what growers already do well and finding practical changes that fit their farms, make better use of their time and offer opportunities to improve return on investment.
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"The most important piece is not to be afraid to fail and fail fast."
About the Guest
Thaddeus Bates
Senior Manager, Innovation Farms, Nutrien Ag Solutions
Thaddeus Bates is the Senior Manager of Innovation Farms at Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he oversees a network of innovation farms across the U.S. to bring together hands-on training, innovation testing and technology demos at scale. He leads the team to research at the speed of farming, focusing on practices growers can implement today and practices that can be adopted in the future. Today, he oversees work across four innovation farms in Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi and California.
