Earning Farmer Trust Advances Technology

“Trust must be earned.” Versions of this quote have been uttered by everyone from famous tennis players to Shakespeare, and certainly applies to farmers deciding with whom they will trust their farm’s data. An operation’s data represents its history and unleashes the potential for its future, so it is understandable that a farmer needs a high level of trust with the technology platform being used.

In order to earn a farmer’s trust, technology providers must do more than say “trust me, we will only use your data as you want.” By making the effort to be ADT Certified, a company puts in the work to be sure their contracts clearly spell out important aspects of data use. They are also willing to share this information widely by posting it on our website so a farmer can review the information at any time.

Ariel Wiegard, ADT Board President who is with the American Soybean Association, shares what the board and all ADT supporters want farmers to feel when they see a company displaying the ADT seal.

“We hope that when farmers see the ADT seal, they recognize it and that it is immediately a source of trust,” Wiegard says. “When they see the seal, they know that a company is a good one to work with and they feel comfortable going forward doing business with them.” 

“We hope the seal is a source of trust.”

Todd Janzen and Ariel Wiegard display the ADT Seal at the 2023 Commodity Classic.

Trust leads to comfort with the technology and that cycle leads to continued technology acceptance. Todd Janzen, ADT Administrator and founding partner at Janzen Schroeder Ag Law, works with a variety of farm operations and observes in this video clip that the great potential of data analytics can be tapped through trusted relationships.

As #Plant23 wraps up, the potential of the season looms large on the minds of farmers. Working with a trusted technology provider can contribute to success. A farm’s data is an important asset, and being ADT certified is a key step in building a trusting relationship that can lead to further innovation.

Interested in what it takes to become certified? Here is a link to commonly asked questions about the associated process and cost. #ADTTrust