Ag Data Transparent Board of Directors Renews Commitment to Farm Data Privacy

The Ag Data Transparent (ADT) Board of Directors recently held its annual meeting in Indianapolis, during the Farm Journal Ag Tech Expo. The board reiterated its support of the mission of ADT: to bring transparency to ag data contracts and educate farmers on data privacy issues.

ADT Administrator Todd Janzen, of Janzen Agricultural Law LLC, presented the annual report to the board. Highlights from 2019 included findings from a survey of 2000 farmers about data privacy concerns, the introduction of the model ag data use agreement, and the inclusion of more certified companies.

Mark Sullivan of HRVST Marketing shared a report on the status of ongoing marketing efforts to increase awareness of ADT to farmers, ranchers and potential certified companies. The report outlined increases in social media traffic and email subscribers. Marketing efforts will continue into 2020 with a focus on engaging existing certified companies’ media platforms. HRVST also brought in a videographer to capture interviews of board members discussing ADT and its importance in the ag industry. These interviews will be utilized in an upcoming video series promoting ADT.

The board elected a few new members, including: Billy Tiller, GiSC; Andy Brudtkuhl, National Pork Board; Luke Zwilling, Nutrien Ag Solutions; Aaron Shier, National Farmers Union; and Sarah Doese, National Corn Growers Association. 

Board members continuing on for another year include: Mitch Norby, MyDairyDashboard; Mark Sullivan, AgDNA; Craig Rogers, Beck’s Hybrids; Jason Tatge, Farmobile; Fred Wall, Farm Credit Canada; Steve Geick, John Deere; Joel Wipperfurth, WinField United; Tom Sell, National Sorghum Producers; Josh Tonsager and Dave Milligan, National Association of Wheat Growers.

The board also elected new officers for 2020. Britt Raybould, a potato farmer with Raybould Brothers Farm, has been elected the President of ADT. Michael Nepveax, American Farm Bureau Federation, has been elected Vice-President, and Bev Paul, National Sorghum Producers, has been elected treasurer.

Aside from routine business, the ADT board decided to expand the scope of the ADT seal to include the farm financial sector. Agricultural lenders are increasingly collecting agricultural data, and safeguarding farmers’ privacy in this information is important. Companies wishing to certify as “Ag Data Transparent” will have the option of identifying “farm financial and management data” as the category of information they are collecting.

ADT now enters its fifth year, with 23 companies having become certified and more in the works. The work to improve transparency and simplify ag data contracts is now more important than ever.