Rusty Fowler

Operation

Krone NA, Inc

Location

Memphis, TN, USA

Job Title

President/CEO

What about your occupation makes you proud?

It is a source of pride to be part of an industry providing the means for North American Farmers and Ranchers to provide a safe, affordable and abundant food supply for our country and for many parts of the world.

What is your main concern about the ag industry – currently and in the future? What keeps you up at night?

Among many concerns for the Ag Industry is the future demand for food versus the capacity to produce and supply it. An aging, declining farm population will struggle to meet the national and global demands of the future. My company advocates on behalf of Farmers and Ranchers, urging our government to pass farm bill legislation with an adequate financial safety net, protecting farmers and ranchers from catastrophic loss and keeping our Farmers in business. We also advocate to clarify damaging misinformation on Agriculture being formented by anti Agricultural Groups.

What would you say to policy makers if you had the chance?

Farming requires a high level of capital investment, a high level of knowledge about leading edge technology in farming methods and practices and a high level of the “culture” in Agriculture. Farmers are skilled, motivated and look at farming, not as a job, but as a way of life. They are one of this nation's most valuable resources and THE source of our safe, affordable and abundant food supply.

What opportunity do you see out there for producers that they need to be paying attention to?

Today's leading technology is tomorrows trailing edge technology. The technology cycle is short, fast and constant. Be it machinery, electronics, genetics, seed, chemicals or renewable energy, the farmer of today has no choice but to stay abreast in the rapid march of technology.