10 Examples of Why Being in Ag Tech Is Like Herding Cats
Yeah, you read that right. I just recently thought about this since I was watching one of my kid’s favorite cartoon movies, Pixar’s Inside Out. If you haven’t seen it, just check out the cat part of the movie on YouTube. Basically, the movie is about different emotions set as characters in your mind. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. As a cat, those emotions are all over the place and random. It’s a fun movie, to say the least, and has good life lessons.
Anyway….why does this bring me to cats and ag tech? Well, that scene just reminded me of how cats’ personalities seem to be random, selfish, lazy, crazy, and manipulative. Of course, they can also be great companions (I’ve had a few) and well…kittens are adorable. Also, they clearly control the internet so there is that as well. Now back to my comparison. Much like the saying goes, “It’s like trying to herd cats.” Meaning, it’s rather tough to say the least.
This is not to say ag tech is easy either. Where I’m going with this is that some in this sector of the ag industry are kind of randomly going around trying to solve whatever issues without much in regards for research, a plan, or even understanding sometimes. Mainly with how the agricultural and agronomy world even works or how the people at the heart of it, growers do their jobs or perform certain tasks.
MORE BY NATHAN FALEIDE
There you have it. I think ag tech is a sort of jumbled mess of emotions right now much like a cat’s personality it seems. They are rogue and just do their own thing most of the time. It is getting better, I think, but sometimes it just gets crazy….like a cat. Anyway, here are my top 10 examples below of how it’s similar, and hopefully they make sense and also make you laugh a little.
- Random cat freakouts: I’ve seen this more and more lately. Basically, some leaders of ag-tech companies can’t take criticism and just randomly lash out at people when confronted, but then all of a sudden are nice and calm. Take a chill pill you crazy felion!
- Petting a cat then all of a sudden, ATTACK!: Like No. 1, I’ve worked with cohorts and companies that have been great and all of a sudden go crazy and backstab you in an instance for an idea or something. Not new to the business world but come on. Get your cat scanned.
- Constant annoying meowing: I compare this one to the ag-tech groups that are constantly putting out press releases, newsletters, or paid articles about themselves by saying how great they are and special. Marketing is needed naturally, but there are some limits. I don’t care if you visited a conference in another country and now made a deal with some random business. Ease up, Mr. Meows.
- Cats just ignoring you because they’re selfish: There are always companies like this, but lately I’ve seen more ag-tech companies that just think they are the top “sh*t so they just ignore you because they have all the right answers. Get a reality check, kitty.
- Lazy and just don’t do anything much of value: These seem prominent, too. There are many so-called ag-tech companies that say they do this or that or that they have some AI/ML whatever. In reality, they have nothing except for something they copied or built in like a month then saying it’s a “leading ag-tech product”. Maybe it turns into something, but many just don’t have the patience, understanding, and risk tolerance to deal with the ag industry. Take a hike, cat.
- Gross coughing and hairballs: These are fun. The ag-tech group that seems to just talk about garbage and puts out crappy product after product to gain users, investment, or fame. Somewhat like No. 5, but they just don’t go away. Enough of the cat-astrophe.
- Cat vs. Cat violence: Gotta love this one. There always seems to be one ag-tech company vs. another with something legal or perceived copying issues. Then the fight begins and it’s like the end of the world, but really no one cares. Then it becomes this giant circus and no one wins. Have you seen two male cats fight it out? It’s a furry crazy loud cat blizzard. Katrate chop!
- Cat gangs or mobs: I compare this one to many of the more recent acquisitions done by larger groups in the ag-tech world. While I can’t say it’s necessarily negative, it feels like a gang of companies coming in together to try to answer all questions and be everything to everyone. It can be rather intimidating. I’m good for it Doncat, I swear!
- Cats on leashes: This is more or less just funny to see. I see this one as an investor in ag-tech trying to control its investment by trying to make all the rules and decisions. The ag-tech company wants to get rid of them so badly and it’s just flailing around until it just concedes to laying on the ground while the leash is pulled. Free that Kitty!
- Giving a cat a bath: You could say this is similar to No. 9 in that you see some investors not believing in the core product so they try to change it while the founders know what they are doing and that is their whole drive to make it work. Cats don’t need baths and some of the ag-tech startups should never pivot. This is a no cat swimming area!
Contributing writer Nathan Faleide says it’s time to shift ag tech from cat to dog mode: loyal, fun, and man’s best friend. Pictured are Nathan’s dogs, Dobber (left) and Buddy.
Now as dumb as that all just sounded, at least I’m trying to have some fun. I know I made you laugh for one of those. Also, this is not to say I don’t like cats. I used to prefer them for a while to dogs. Now I’m all dog because my wife is allergic to cats. Cats just are kind of the crazy animal of the pet world much like ag tech is that for agriculture. Not bad all the time, but we need to shift into dog mode. Loyal, fun, innocent, protective, and best friend to man or in this case ag as a whole.
Whether you call it ag tech, digital ag, precision ag, smart farming ,or whatever, I think we can all agree that the actions of this group in ag is going to help shape the future. Instead of going into it as a jumbled mess of groups and systems that either have no path or have no want to work together, let’s all try to do this together. Integrate our systems, work towards a common goal, stop the in-fighting. Make it like a dog park. Have you ever seen all the dogs work together and chase a common ball, dog, bird, or something, congregate with sniffs, or just all sniff the same butts? They all want the same thing and usually play together rather well. Imagine a cat park… That is a big nope for me. I’d think most would agree.
All in all, I’m not trying to bite the hand that feeds me. I’m trying to get some real world examples out there to help maybe, just maybe, change some of these seemingly common practices I’ve seen over the years from people and companies in ag tech. I see bits and pieces, but really most in ag just want to have the right solutions work when they need it. In order to do that we need purpose and to work together with sound practices and real world positive outcomes. Let us get it done and stop the “herding cats” mentality.
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