Posted January 12, 2022 | By: Nutrien Ag Solutions

2022: The Year of the Agronomist, with Senior VP for Retail North America David Elser

Supply chain, labor and policy uncertainties have come to a head, leaving growers in search of opportunities to improve their margins and solve problems that they may never have faced before.

And that means that Nutrien Ag Solutions will be a more valuable partner than ever before, according to newly-promoted Senior VP for Retail North America David Elser.

He believes that 2022 is poised to be the Year of the Agronomist, as Nutrien Ag Solutions' experienced team helps growers overcome these challenges and thrive in uncertain times. In this episode, David explains how his roots on a family farm in Iowa are an asset in the C-Suite, how he's continuing to build trust with growers, and why sustainable ag needs champions in the field.

Plus, Tom and Sally wrangle with the definition of sustainable agriculture, and decide that maybe "do the right thing" is a pretty good start.

Episode Transcript

David Elser:

If we don't built trust with our customers, we're dead in our tracks. And if we really want to become the most customer focused agronomic solution provider in all of North America, trust is absolutely critical. I think this whole acre solution, a field at a time, the voice of the field, is absolutely a way to build trust with the farmer.

Dusty Weis:

Welcome to The Future, Faster, a sustainable agriculture podcast, by Nutrien Ag Solutions. With our very own Tom Daniel, director of retail sustainable Ag. And Dr. Sally Flis, senior manager sustainability field. This is your opportunity to learn about the next horizon in sustainable agriculture.

Dusty Weis:

For growers. For partners. For the planet. To us, it's not about changing what's always worked. It's about continuing to do the little things that make a big impact.

Dusty Weis:

On this week's episode David Elser, senior vice president for Retail North America, joins us to discuss how his roots on a family farm in Iowa are an asset in the Nutrien Ag Solutions C-Suite, how he's continuing to build growers trust in the company, and why he thinks 2022 will be the Year… of the Agronomist

Dusty Weis:

But you haven't yet, make sure you're subscribed to this podcast in your favorite app. Also, make sure you follow Nutrien Ag Solutions on Facebook and Instagram.

Dusty Weis:

I'm Dusty Weis, and it's time, once again, to introduce Tom Daniel and Sally Flis. Tom and Sally, when we talk about sustainable agriculture, sometimes it's easy to forget that everyone in that conversation might not be using the same definition of sustainable.

Dusty Weis:

And that can make it really tough to have any kind of conversation at all. So, you two are experts in this field and talk to a lot of people about it. What factors do you have to consider when you're defining sustainability?

Tom Daniel:

Well, Dusty, I'd say the first thing is, when you use the term expert, there's lots of definitions for that. So I'm not going to get into those today. But, as Sally and I travel, we are more than 50 miles from home at most of our speaking engagements, so they do call us experts.

Tom Daniel:

But when you talk about sustainability, I get a kick out of it, because when we talk to our own retail guys, or when are talking to a grower group, that's one of the first things that comes up. What do you define sustainability as?

Tom Daniel:

And Sally and I were talking about this the other day. It became very clear that sustainability depends on the circumstance and where you are. So, it's really about, what's going on in your farming operations as of now. And what do you consider to be the most sustainable factors that are currently present on your farm.

Tom Daniel:

As we talked about it the other day, if you got a farmer that's struggling, Dusty, to pay his bills every day, then sustainability to him is economic sustainability. What do I need to do, and changes do I need to make on my farm, that will make my farm economically sustainable?

Tom Daniel:

So, they're looking for financial choices that they can make. What can they do to help make their farm financially stable? A lot of times we attach sustainability to conservation. A lot of people say it's around conservation or regenerative ag.

Tom Daniel:

But in some cases that may not be it. It may be another factor that they're struggling with. It can be the economy. It can be about just maintaining a farming livelihood on the farm. Or, I'll give you another one, what if you're an older generation farmer on the farm today?

Tom Daniel:

You're looking for sustaining the farm operation into the next generation. So, sustainability then is about creating a legacy effect into the future. And leaving the farm in a state that creates value for the next generation that comes on.

Tom Daniel:

Hey, if you are in the western part of the US this year, Sally, the major thing that we have problems with there was water. So, sustainability in the west was more about, how can I farm with the least amount of water? Or be the most efficient around farming?

Tom Daniel:

So, the definition of sustainability, we all like to have that what we call, that cookie cutter definition. But really, Sally, it just depends on where you are, and what your current situation is.

Sally Flis:

True, Tom. I think the high-level definition is the one that I always think about the most. It's got social, economic and environmental impact, as we try and move down this path of continuous improvement with sustainability agriculture.

Sally Flis:

But it does come back to that limiting factor, or the term you'll hear from USEA and NRCS, what is the resource concern? And like you said, the resource concern could be an environmental resource concern. It could be an economic resource concern.

Sally Flis:

I think a lot of growers, in addition to struggling with any environmental or economic resource concerns in the last year or two or probably longer than that, there's also that labor resource concern.

Sally Flis:

How much more can I do when I can't find anybody to work? Or, like you're saying, I'm ready to get off the farm myself, but there's nobody to take over in that succession planning. So, sustainability, really, we should always try and think about those social economic and environmental impacts.

Sally Flis:

But then, it is, sustainability is local. It's what is that limiting factor or resource concern that is a challenge for that particular grower.

Tom Daniel:

And when you say the term resource concern, resources on the farming operation, obviously is going to be our soil, or water quality and availability. And obviously, then, our air quality.

Tom Daniel:

What we're doing around our farm for CO2 reduction and those type of things. So those are all things we can attach to resource concerns. But I almost look at resources concerns like I do farm production.

Tom Daniel:

We're always engaged in our agronomic solutions and we're usually focused on increasing yield. That's our biggest component. So when we're looking at increasing yield, we look at limiting factors.

Tom Daniel:

We say, "Okay, what is the limiting factor on this acre of corn or soybeans or canola or whatever it may be, that's holding me back from maximizing my overall production goals on this farm?"

Tom Daniel:

I view the resource concerns, as we call them, the same way. Do we have a resource on the farm that's creating a limitation? Something that's not going to allow us to maximize our overall production.

Tom Daniel:

So, Sally, from my perspective, it's no different in sustainability as it is in productivity. It's all looking at that limiting resource.

Sally Flis:

Yeah. And some of those can be really simple solves, right? We get so wrapped up, especially you and I, Tom, in talking about getting into nitrogen markets. Getting into carbon markets, emission reduction, carbon sequestration, when it could be as simple, on some of the acres that we're working with, of, when is the last time you put lime down?"

Sally Flis:

Are the resource you're applying, and fertilizer and chemistry, able to be used by the crop that you're trying to grow? Because it's something as simple as, have you checked pH or limed your field in the last year?

Sally Flis:

We get into discussions about these really hot topics like carbon, or generating credits, whether they're carbon credits or water quality credits, and we need to remember that all of this has to be based on sound, agronomic practices. And sound agronomic implementation. Or we're never going to generate any of the outcomes that we're hoping for. Because they just aren't going to happen without agronomy behind them.

Tom Daniel:

And that's exactly right. And even when we talk a lot around the carbon play. Carbon is, we've always said, Sally, it's just the tip of the spear. All the sustainability things that happen behind carbon are the major factors that we want to lead to changes on the farm.

Tom Daniel:

So if we're doing things for carbon, the hope is that we're going to create soil health metrics. They're going to increase productivity on the farm. And we're looking at long-term changes that carbon can help drive. But doing something just for the sake of carbon is never going to be a good reason to do something.

Tom Daniel:

You have to look at the long-term resource changes that we're going to make on the farm, by implementing those practices that do give us a carbon payment over time. We talk about it a lot, Sally, about, carbon is somewhat of a long-term strategy, because if you talk about carbon contracts, they always talk about 10, 20, 30 years, or even 100 years, of a strategy.

Tom Daniel:

With those particular strategies, we have to look at the short-term impacts, too. Where do we get value at the resource level in the short-term? For implementing some of these practices that can have long-term benefits to it? So, I guess, we don't all the time look at sustainability, at just a long-term impact. But we're looking at, what can get in some short-term paybacks, too?

Sally Flis:

Yeah, and that's where it's nice to put together these combinations of programs and practices. When we look at the soil organic carbon pieces, those are your long-term ones. It takes a while to see the biology change in the soil so that we're continuing to sequester carbon. And that we're building soil health and improving nutrient cycling.

Sally Flis:

And all the things that are good about making those soil organic carbon management practice changes. But then, we've got things like the short-term stuff, the nitrogen management program that we've talked on in a few episodes. About where we can get a return right away...

Sally Flis:

On rate reduction or use of enhanced efficiency fertilizer product. A nitrification inhibitor or an ESN slow-controlled release product, that we can get some money to the grower, and report on and talk about outcomes in the short-term while we're continuing to work towards building those soil organic carbon long-term pieces.

Tom Daniel:

Exactly right. Exactly right. I kind of use this as my definition for sustainable ag, and I'm not sure this is the one that anybody's going to print anywhere anytime soon, but I always call it, "doing the right thing." To me, that's the key thing.

Tom Daniel:

Doing the right thing. And when we talk about doing the right thing, it's the right thing for where we are now. And then, looking to future. What can we do to increase our legacies and those things on the farm looking to the future?

Tom Daniel:

Sustainable ag, from where you and I are today, Sally, we have to meet the farmer for where he is now. We all have an idea of what we want him to look like 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, on his operation and making improvements.

Tom Daniel:

But, we have to look at where he is today. Meet him there. And then plan accordingly. Because, it's not where the future's going to be, but it's where he is today, and how we get to the future.

Dusty Weis:

Do the right thing. I think that's as good a definition as I've heard there, Tom. And just as sustainability has to find its own definition in each individual growing operation, it's also where to find it's place in much larger organizations.

Dusty Weis:

And so, coming up after the break, we're going to talk to David Elser. The senior VP for Retail North America, at Nutrien Ag Solutions, about how such an important player in the ag industry is securing its place as a leader in sustainability as well. That's in a moment, here on The Future, Faster.

Dusty Weis:

This is The Future, Faster, a sustainable agriculture podcast by Nutrien Ag Solutions. I'm Dusty Weis, along with Tom Daniel and Sally Flis. And we're joined now by David Elser, senior VP for Retail North America, at Nutrien Ag Solutions. David, thanks for joining us.

David Elser:

Dusty, great to be here today. Appreciate you guys having me.

Dusty Weis:

Absolutely a pleasure. So, first, congratulations on your new role at Nutrien Ag Solutions. For anybody that might be hearing directly from you for the first time, can you introduce yourself a little bit? Give us a quick summary of your background, leading up to this role?

David Elser:

Yeah, Dusty. And again, like I said, it's a great pleasure to be here today with you, Tom, and Sally, colleagues of mine here at Nutrien Ag Solutions. And you're right, just recently was appointed into a new role. Senior vice president of Retail North America. And 26+ years of experience in the ag industry, starting on a family farm in Iowa.

David Elser:

Which I'm still heavily involved in with my brother. And firsthand get the chance to really experience sustainable ag. But also, a chance to see how growers view such activities. But, 20+ years at Syngenta, prior to joining Nutrien Ag Solutions. Varied - many different roles.

David Elser:

Both commercially as well as strategically. Some of the things that I was most proud of as well as found to be most interesting, was global head of herbicides for corn. As well as global head of cotton. Which really, at the end of the day, gave me a chance to see the world through the lens of how things are done differently in different parts of the world.

David Elser:

Joined Nutrien in September of 2018. Had a number of different roles here also. Mainly working with all of our key suppliers, as well as part of the supply chain organization. So Dusty, it's a great honor to be here at Nutrien Ag Solutions.

David Elser:

It's the best place to work. I think also, the chance to impact sustainable ag, Nutrien Ag Solutions is a great position to do such and one of the reasons why I joined the organization. So, good to be here today and look forward to the conversation.

Sally Flis:

Thanks, David. In your career, and not just your career, but also your lifetime, having grown up on a farm in Iowa, you've really served in different roles. And you've served on different sides of that sustainability conversation of discussion.

Sally Flis:

Whether it's the product side or the rollout side, from your career, at different companies. Or, working with your family on the farm, still trying to solve these sustainability challenges in the field.

Sally Flis:

So, what are some key things that have kind of helped shape that perspective that you have on sustainability ag, as we look towards our 2022 cropping season?

David Elser:

Now, if you think about farming as a whole, when you've met one farmer you've met one farmer. And again, when you've met one field, you've met one field. And you've met a cropping practice in one part of the country, versus a cropping practice in another part of the world.

David Elser:

For me, the chance to see how corn is raised from all parts of the world as well as at Syngenta the key crops in cotton and the likes. As well as here at Nutrien Ag Solutions, in working with key suppliers, really has shaped this idea that diversity does matter.

David Elser:

The way people solve for problems, and that once size does not fit all, has been really key to my learnings over my career. I think about, one time, working in the state of Ohio, and trying to solve for how corn was raised in the state of Ohio, versus that of which I got the opportunity to learn growing up in the state of Iowa.

David Elser:

A number of different key learnings coming from those different experiences. And I just think about the breadth that Nutrien Ag Solutions has, working across all crops, global in nature as well as across all of North America, we really have a chance to see cropping practices from all different angles.

David Elser:

Which, in the space of sustainable ag, I think the first thing we all have to recognize is, this ends up being quite local quite fast.

Tom Daniel:

I agree with that totally, David. Just a question, this sustainable ag team within Nutrien, our retail organization's a relatively young team, if you look back. We've only been together for, what? Three years, probably.

Tom Daniel:

I've only been here for a year and a half now, in this role. But, in your role now, how do you see sustainable ag, and how do you see Nutrien as being a part of that solution in the retail business, as far as what Sustainable Ag is?

David Elser:

Yeah, Tom, it's a really good question. If at the end of the day we want to end up being the most customer focused agronomic solution provider to all of the growers across North America, one of the things that we're going to have to be great to recognize is that Sustainable Ag is at the heart of everything we do.

David Elser:

Now, the good news is, with all the agronomists we have on the ground, serving customers every day, all the learnings we've had over the number of years that we've been who we've been, as well as, as I've said earlier in the segment, where we scale across literally all geographies across North America, really gives us a chance to shape those insights, going forward.

David Elser:

So, although it is quite local quite fast, when you've met one field of one grower, it ends up being a different solution. The scale that we have gives us a chance to really bring forward that customer focused agronomic solution provider. Which, sustainable ag is at the heart of all of we do.

Sally Flis:

So this is kind of a surprise question for you, David. Because we tend to do this as we're going ...

Tom Daniel:

We don't do this often.

Sally Flis:

One of the things that Tom and I hear in the field all the time, and you've probably heard it as well is, how can we trust ag retail, a company like Nutrien Ag Solutions, a company like Nutrien, that manufactures fertilizer and just wants to sell fertilizer? How can we trust them to be our champions in the field? For helping growers make these right decisions on sustainability ag, and keep moving on this continuous improvement spectrum, that we know is important to us as a company, and to our grower customers that we work with?

David Elser:

Well, Sally, it's really not that much of trick question, because I think it's a really important question. Because, sort of at the heart of what you've outlined there, is the word trust.

David Elser:

And I think many times, in industry that we are in, local farmers dealing with local issues, hearing about, potentially, the next big transformational opportunity in agriculture, they start to get quite skeptical quite quick.

David Elser:

Because, in many cases, some of those transformational capabilities, or visions, or approaches, haven't panned out so well for them. So I think, in our case, because of our trusted adviser approach in the field, the number of agronomists we have every day on farmers farms, serving them, and the importance that we know as Nutrien Ag Solutions is, if we don't built trust with our customers, we're dead in our tracks.

David Elser:

And if we really want to become the most customer focused agronomic solution provider on all of North America, trust is absolutely critical. So for us, we have groups that help manage stakeholders. Whether it's our government affairs team, at the heart of what's going on in DC, or in other government associations.

David Elser:

We have our strategic supplier management group, that's at the heart of what our suppliers are doing. So again, gaining insights from them. And then lastly, we're able to translate that through teams like yourself. Where sustainable ag is really at the heartbeat of everything you're doing every day.

David Elser:

Helping us shape these solutions in front of our teams in the field. And in our teams in the field, they do an amazing job of having that relationship with the customer, to built that trust. So when we come with something to the grower, it's for real.

David Elser:

And I know we've had a number of pilots out this last year. Hundreds of thousands of acres have already highly engaged activities around Sustainable Ag. And that whole piloting process, as we look to scale going forward, is also part of the opportunity to built trust.

David Elser:

So, although on the front side it may seem a bit tricky, I think, actually, at the end of the day, that question is absolutely a must. Because, if we cannot continue to earn the trust of our customers, we're really dead in our tracks.

Tom Daniel:

Yeah, Dave. And I'd say this, too. In our discussions, we always talk about sustainability is local. It's a local thing that we all deal with. So every grower has a different need, a different place in their operation that sustainability fits. And we talked on the earlier segment, that sustainability can be, if I'm just trying to hold onto my farm, that is called economic sustainability.

Tom Daniel:

It's not even related to a resource. So, as we look at those things around sustainability, we have a good friend in the industry, Sally and I do, that uses the term that, every field has its own voice. And that always sticks with me. Every field has its own voice.

Tom Daniel:

So when we look at solutions and ways to help the farmer, we're not just focused on one particular sale to a farmer, or just participating in part of the operation. It really becomes that holistic discussion. How do we manage that entire acre?

Tom Daniel:

We call it that whole acre solution. So, how do you feel about Nutrien as we work toward better relationships with our customer base, to the point that we're managing that whole acre solution? And what does that really mean?

David Elser:

Tom, I completely agree with everything you said there. As I said earlier, when you've met one field, you've met one field or the voice of the field. And I think, in the context of creating the whole acre solutions for that individual field, that brings forward the most sustainable approach to raising the crop on that field, it all starts with the soil.

David Elser:

And I think this is where, an organization like Nutrien Ag Solutions, as well as our commitment to soil sciences, the ownership of Waypoint, our deep understanding of what goes on in the field, gives us that first best baseline to put together the right whole acre solution. That then, not only will create the outcome for the customer that's in the best interest for them.

David Elser:

But also, we're able to evolve in a more sustainable way. And I think about your earlier comment around sustainability sometimes just means getting by. Meaning, this given field deserves a certain agronomic approach, just to get by. Because of, either season or the year we're in.

David Elser:

But also the opportunity, particularly when I think about, Sally your earlier question that was supposed to be tricky and the terms of creating trust with customers. I think, Tom, this whole acre solution, a field at a time, the voice of the field, is absolutely a way to built trust with the farmer.

David Elser:

Because what they know is, we've got their best interest in mind, because it is a field at a time. It's not just selling a widget at a time. And so, as we go forward, the importance of Sustainable Ag to our overall business, the idea of creating whole acre solutions that fit for that field, is at the heart of everything that we're going to need to get done.

David Elser:

Particularly if we're going to be the most customer focused, because our customers all farm fields to raise crops that produce the agronomic solutions, to help them be successful.

David Elser:

So, Tom, everything you said on the front side, I absolutely agree with. And I think it's at the heart of things we need to get done.

Sally Flis:

David, as we look to what will be another challenging cropping season in 2022, between prices and still challenges with COVID, and labor, and distribution and supply, and all the stuff that ...

David Elser:

Supply chain, yep.

Sally Flis:

... that our retail guys are struggling with in the field. Our retail teams are struggling with in the field every day. And our growers are struggling with. What are a few things that you're really excited about, that are going to be happening in Nutrien Ag Solutions over the next year? That are going to help our grower customers and our crop consultants meet some of those challenges, while continuing on Sustainable Ag and continuous improvement in the field?

David Elser:

Yeah, Sally, these last few years have not been anything but hard. Nothing's been easy. And going into 2022, although commodity prices continue to stay strong, the outlook looks good, obviously there are substantial supply chain challenges across, really, all the input segments.

David Elser:

Whether you're trying to purchase a new tractor, or a pickup or, or find some fertilizer, or get the right herbicides to control weeds on your farm. I think at the end of the day, the thing that will separate us and I'm most excited about is, our people.

David Elser:

Our people, and our ability to communicate across the entire supply chain, and the scale that Nutrien Ag Solutions has to be able to do that, second to nobody gives us a chance to best serve our farmers.

David Elser:

And back to one of your earlier questions, that builds trust. And when you can build trust serving your farmer every day, with our agronomists, on their farms, helping solve their problems, and putting forth solutions that, maybe at the front end weren't exactly what we were planning.

David Elser:

But as we got through the season and we dealt with the challenges of either supply chain challenges, COVID challenges, or any others, we're still putting the right opportunities there to produce the best outcome with the farmers.

David Elser:

So, at the end of the day, building that trust, and our ability to bring forward the right solutions to the farm. And I really see 2022 as the year of the agronomist. And the good news is, we have a lot of great agronomists.

David Elser:

Because, what it's going to take is that real time pivoting when some things don't go quite right. Either the weather doesn't give us what we thought we needed. Otherwise, maybe here are supply chain challenges out there that don't give us what we need.

David Elser:

So, if our teams are working well with out customers, which we know they are every day, and that we're communicating back into our organization, and we're able then to pull together the right sort of approaches to help solve the farmer's problems. I think this is all part of the Sustainable Ag approach.

David Elser:

And if you think about being a grower who's challenged with who they should buy their inputs from? Who should be their trusted advisor? And who will be here tomorrow to help them solve problems? This is where Nutrien Ag Solutions comes into play.

David Elser:

Because, again, we're here to built trust, we're here to serve the farmer in his or her fields, as well as deal with the challenges that are out there. And we have their back. And we're on their side, to help do that.

David Elser:

Not all companies are. They have their own agenda's that they want to do, but not here at Nutrien Ag Solutions. It's a great place to work and a great place to be part of.

Dusty Weis:

David, as you speak about that, I can't help but thinking, how unique and really helpful it is to have someone with your background as a grower, someone who's strapped on boots and gone out and gotten dirty in the field, at an executive level at Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Dusty Weis:

And I guess I just wanted to ask, above and beyond the importance of establishing trust with the growers in the fields, what else does your background on the farm enable you to bring to the executive suite at Nutrien Ag Solutions?

David Elser:

Yeah, Dusty, there are a number of key individuals and colleagues of mine in this organization that have a broad breadth of experience and background. We've got agronomists celebrating 30 to 40 years of service to this organization. And that brings forward that trust.

David Elser:

And I think, when it comes to myself and the opportunity to grow up on a family farm in Iowa, learning what it meant to get the job done on the farm. When you need to get the job done on the farm, but also begin looking at how you shape the approach to your farming practices from one generation to the next.

David Elser:

As your thinking about transforming that approach, that's been an eyeopening experience that, there are days that we just have to ask dad to sit aside and let myself and my brother run the business. Because where he was and how he was doing it, verus where it's going, is substantially different.

David Elser:

And so, that sort of real boots on the ground, hands dirty approach, to this understanding has been quite helpful to me. But in addition to that, experiences, like I said early on the front end, 20+ years at Syngenta, traveling the world, seeing how agriculture is done in all corners of the planet. Literally anywhere in the world, corn is grown, that's important…

David Elser:

I've been and seen how corn is grown. That breadth of understanding and diversity of approach, and what's going on in one other place of the world, versus the other, brings forth a new perspective.

David Elser:

And then, this is the opportunity the last three years, to really experience Nutrien Ag Solutions and the great people that exist here. The commitment that we have to transforming agriculture, and feeding the world, is just, again, second to nobody.

David Elser:

People like Tom and Sally, committed to sustainable ag, and helping us build out our approach, and then engaging with our field to help execute. So, as much as it is about my background and my experience going into this role, it's a lot about my colleagues as well as those that have been here a long time, helping us get to where we are today.

Sally Flis:

David, in 2021, our crop consultants on the ground and the Sustainable Ag team worked with grower customers. And we reached about 575,000 acres across North America, with discussions on new practices, getting new practices implemented on the ground to drive our Sustainable Ag programs.

Sally Flis:

One thing we're looking at is, how do we define a grower and a crop consultant as being a Sustainable Ag champion in the field? So what are some key characteristics you would look for in a grower and a crop consultant, to really define them as a champion of Sustainable Ag in the field?

David Elser:

Yeah, Sally, if I think about the importance of advocacy, or just being a champion of any given idea, it's all part of how you get a movement on your side. I think about the transformation of sustainable ag, and where we'll be five years from now, from where we are today. Being a champion, being an advocate, is absolutely critical.

David Elser:

And in many cases, early on in any sort of transformations career or approach, like here we are at Nutrien Ag Solutions with Sustainable Ag, it's really important to think about those growers that are always on the cutting edge.

David Elser:

Think about their business a field at a time. And that we can help partner with, to help solve for not only the current situation at hand, but also as we start to built that Sustainable Ag approach. In terms of our own people, clearly you've got to have an open mind, you got to be able to be an advocate.

David Elser:

And you got to be able to know that, not everything is always going to go right. And the importance of taking a risk from time to time, as well as being great at communicating. And I think about some of the most successful teams that I've been part of, there were champions of either a given product, or a given approach, or a given launch.

David Elser:

Normally, they were all absolutely passionate about what they did. They were all great at communicating about what they did. And they were all willing to kind of deal with the ambiguity of some of the uncertainties with it.

David Elser:

I just think about, everything that you hear every day about sustainability, everything that you hear about every day, when it comes to carbon, and carbon credits and what's right or wrong. Or maybe one of our suppliers has launched a new sustainability program out there, and we aren't quite certain what that means.

David Elser:

Being able to sift through all that, not only for ourselves but on behalf of our customers, helps us become a champion. So, that's how I think about it Sally. And absolutely important, when I think about our movement going forward.

Dusty Weis:

Well, David, these have been some great insights here, into why Nutrien Ag Solutions is such a trusted leader in agriculture and sustainability. So, we were really glad that you were able to join us. And congratulations, again, on your recent promotion.

Dusty Weis:

Davis Elser, senior VP for Retail North America at Nutrien Ag Solutions. Thank you so much for joining us on this episode of The Future, Faster.

Dusty Weis:
That is going to conclude this edition of The Future, Faster: The Pursuit of Sustainable Success with Nutrien Ag Solutions. New episodes arrive every other week, so make sure you subscribe in your favorite app and join us again soon. Visit futurefaster.com to learn more.

The Future, Faster podcast is brought to you by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with Executive Producer Connor Erwin, editing by Larry Kilgore the Third, and produced by Podcamp Media, branded podcast production for businesses. PodcampMedia.com.

From Nutrien Ag Solutions, thanks for listening. I'm Dusty Weis.

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Posted July 16, 2021

New Varieties Bring New Management to Ensure a High-Quality Crop