Farming is entrepreneurship at its most extreme 🚜 | Meagan Kaiser (US Soy Board)

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I met Meagan Kaiser at Sustainability Week in London back in March, where she spoke about global trade, soy innovation, and the future of sustainable agriculture. I knew instantly I wanted to continue the conversation, but this time, for Millennial Masters.

Meagan is a fifth-generation farmer, a trained soil scientist, and a board member at the US Soy Board. She runs a soil lab with global clients, helps manage her family’s Missouri farm, and plays a national role in shaping the future of US agriculture.

This conversation gets into the gritty reality behind farming: the risk, the volatility, the margins, and why it demands the mindset of a founder and the precision of a scientist.

🔗 Find Meagan on LinkedIn

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Takeaways from Meagan’s episode

1️⃣ Farming is a high-stakes business

Margins are thin, markets are chaotic, and the risks are real. Meagan puts it simply: every year, they could go out of business. It’s founder energy, but with tractors.

2️⃣ Soil science drives ROI

Meagan’s lab treats soil like a business asset. Every nutrient imbalance is a yield leak. Precision testing and nutrient mapping lead to smarter decisions and stronger returns.

3️⃣ Tech adoption is a survival skill

From GPS-guided planters to sensors that spot and spray single weeds, today’s farms are testing and scaling faster than most startups. If you’re not innovating, you’re falling behind.

4️⃣ Volatility beats routine

There’s no fixed price, no fixed output, no guaranteed outcome. Everything, from fertiliser costs to soy demand, can shift overnight. It’s a constant game of scenario planning and gut calls.

5️⃣ Sustainability scales when it makes business sense

Biodiesel fuels their tractors. Cover crops build resilience. Smart input management protects margins and soil. Meagan’s approach shows how sustainability isn’t a side mission — it’s baked into the operating model.

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In this episode we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Meagan Kaiser

02:28 The Journey into Agriculture and Soil Science

06:47 Entrepreneurship in Farming: The Reality of Generational Farms

10:55 Understanding Soil Science: The Foundation of Crop Production

15:36 Innovations in Agriculture: Technology and Efficiency

18:37 The Role of the United Soybean Board in Agriculture

22:10 Navigating the Global Commodities Market

25:56 Sustainability in Soy Production: Practices and Impact

28:52 Global Trade and Its Impact on Agriculture

30:27 Building Sustainable Practices in Agriculture

33:43 Understanding GMOs and Consumer Choices

38:38 Nutrient Cycling and Food Waste

41:52 Innovations in Biodegradable Plastics

44:11 The Intersection of Big Agriculture and Sustainability

46:48 Embracing Technology for Future Farming

47:49 Encouraging Diversity in Agriculture

50:26 The Importance of Mentorship in Farming

52:48 Balancing Family and Farming Responsibilities

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