Tech and Tools Experts Supercharge Agricultural Operations in Colorado
In partnership with: Colorado Department of Agriculture
Farming-solution specialists are fueling smarter and more productive operations in ways that lift communities.
Master of Science
Koby Dobbs is an operations expert who uses his passion for computer science and innovation to solve agricultural supply chain issues. He serves as the director of agriculture with the Ag & Food Lab, an organization dedicated to addressing social and community issues in agriculture, and works with Emerald Gardens, a microgreens producer in Bennett. He specializes in harnessing the power of geographic information systems (GIS), which captures, stores and analyzes data to optimize efficiency.
“The GIS-related projects help us map out the physical and communal changes on the property,” Dobbs says.
Emerald Gardens utilizes GIS to determine best practices for microgreen propagation in the greenhouses and allows the gardens to conserve resources with information about the topography and irrigation management.
Emerald Gardens hosts several community education programs, including a training for immigrant and novice farmers on how to integrate sustainability tools into their agricultural practices.
“We’re injecting new life and perspectives into the agricultural sector by supporting the young and inexperienced farmers and those who come from underrepresented groups,” Dobbs says.
Dobbs helps the future farmers learn computer-based resources to optimize their operations. He is enthusiastic about the rising appreciation for technology in agriculture and sees a future ripe with possibility.
“If you have an interest in any STEM field – use the skills you build in agriculture,” Dobbs says.
See more: Colorado Dairy Farmers Embrace Ag Tech
Passion for People
The industry’s demand for technological innovation is matched by its need for state-of-the-art equipment. Taylor Implement Company store manager Dean Michael is the head of hay and forage equipment after working decades in businesses outside of agriculture.
“I had a steep learning curve when I was hired due to all the advancements over the past decades,” Michael says.
While his job is to help with equipment solutions, Michael and his team are also focused on keeping customer relationships at the heart of the operation.
“We are a small, family-owned company that still believes the customer is important,” Michael says. “From the customer that purchases a small tractor to the customer who buys 12 new combines every year, we strive to take care of all of them.”
“You won’t find better people in any industry like you can find in agriculture,” Michael says.