An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
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Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#2What else would such a partnership be used for?
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#3This is the first I've heard of Tillable. As described, it's not really AirBnB for farmland, it's a growing-rights exchange.
The counterparty risk for landowners is substantial if it isn't mitigated somehow. A long-term relationship with the land is essential to keeping it healthy.
The relationships between farmers and landowners often span generations -- that makes them ripe for disruption, but the many practices that have emerged to safeguard those relationships have good reasons to exist. So many deals of substantial value are made in in-kind exchanges between neighbors who have worked side by side for decades. Rapidly-changing tenants would change everything.
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#4Is is too uncharitable of me to think of Tillable as a VC-funded vehicle to make sharecropping even worse than it already was?
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#5I hope this doesn’t discourage farmers from using technology to improve efficiency, yields, profits, etc.
I can’t imagine how tough it is to farm for your livelihood. The pressure on farmers must be brutal - from John Deere making it impossible to fix/own your own tractor[0] to climate change, and now your landlord might not renew your lease.
At that point, why put so much effort into something with so little upside and so much downside for the farmer.
[0] https://www.wired.com/2015/04/dmca-ownership-john-deere/
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#6Kull’s previous startup, 640Labs, was purchased by Climate Corporation.
Smith had to wonder: Did Tillable target specific landlords because it got access to data about how productive and profitable their land is?
Climate Corp is a division of Monsanto. Wanna bet they have their own data about crop yields?
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#7I hope this doesn’t discourage farmers from using technology to improve efficiency, yields, profits, etc. I can’t imagine how tough it is to farm for your livelihood. The pressure on farmers must be brutal - from John Deere making it impossible to fix/own your own tractor[0] to climate change, and now your landlord might not renew your lease. At that point, why put so much effort into something with so little upside…
> I hope this doesn’t discourage farmers from using technology to improve efficiency, yields, profits, etc.
Throughout history of settled humans, Farmers have always been at the brink of technological progress. The wheel, the plow, and all sorts of machines. It's a common theme to depict them as technologically backwards, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Another common but misguided theme is to depict them as stupid, which they aren't in any form or fashion. They know when something is harmful to them, and this is an instance.
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#8Farming is an inefficient industry full of generational land princes who are hicks. Time for total disruption. It is a backward industry that sucks up tax dollars so people with small amounts of land can player grower/milk man.
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#9Any heredity industry is going to be kinda backward.
Re: An Airbnb for farmland hits a snag, as farmers raise data privacy concerns
#10I hope this doesn’t discourage farmers from using technology to improve efficiency, yields, profits, etc. I can’t imagine how tough it is to farm for your livelihood. The pressure on farmers must be brutal - from John Deere making it impossible to fix/own your own tractor[0] to climate change, and now your landlord might not renew your lease. At that point, why put so much effort into something with so little upside…
> I hope this doesn’t discourage farmers from using technology to improve efficiency, yields, profits, etc. Throughout history of settled humans, Farmers have always been at the brink of technological progress. The wheel, the plow, and all sorts of machines. It's a common theme to depict them as technologically backwards, but nothing could be further from the truth. Another common but misguided theme is to depict the…
> Farmers have always been at the brink of technological progress.
You would think we would see more automation and fewer cows being milked by hand were this true.