Stronger Together: How Shared Knowledge Is Fueling the Future of Farming
Farming has long been known as an independent profession—each grower managing their operation in their own way, learning through experience, and passing down knowledge within their own farm. But what if the key to more profitability and unlocking higher yields wasn’t just in trial and error, but in tracking real-world data and learning from one another?
Grower Networking: The Need for Shared Knowledge
This idea is at the core of Total Acre, and it’s a lesson that Randy Dowdy learned firsthand the hard way. When Randy first started farming, he faced a common challenge: getting information from other farmers. "When I first started farming, I was the first generation, because my dad was a preacher, not a farmer. I went to farmers around me to try to get information, and I just couldn't get people to share a lot of information. They just wouldn’t do it." said Randy, Total Acre Founder.
At the time, Randy wasn’t a competitor, he was just trying to get his farming operation started and had a lot of questions. But many farmers held their cards close, unwilling to share what worked for them. This experience stuck with him, and it planted a seed. What if farmers openly shared knowledge instead of keeping it to themselves? Could they all improve together?
Turning Competition into Collaboration
Rather than keeping his success to himself, Randy Dowdy recognized the greater value in sharing knowledge to elevate the entire farming community. His experiences—alongside fellow record-breaking grower David Hula—highlighted the impact of collaboration and transparency in driving meaningful improvement.
This philosophy became the foundation for Total Acre: a program built not only to push the boundary on yields, but to empower more growers to succeed through shared learning. By fostering a network of engaged, like-minded farmers, Total Acre creates an environment where members exchange proven strategies, gain insight from real-world results, and use data to make confident, informed decisions that improve profitability and performance across the board.
Closing the Knowledge Gap on Your Farm
For years, many farmers operated under the mindset of "figuring it out on their own." But Randy challenges this way of thinking. "Ignorance is bliss. Farmers don’t worry about what they don’t know, or they do things the way it’s always been done. But, if they track the data and learn from it, they find it makes a big difference in the outcomes.”
One example? Emergence timing. For many growers, the planter is often the limiting factor—and inconsistent emergence is a major barrier to maximum crop performance. If all your plants aren’t coming up at the same time, it’s a problem worth solving. The seed is already in the ground and the cost is already spent, so ensuring uniform emergence is a no-cost way to drive yields higher. This simple adjustment can lead to better results without additional input costs—but many growers wouldn’t recognize the opportunity unless they were tracking their data and learning from others who’ve already proven the impact.
Why Join Total Acre? Learn, Share, and Grow—Together.
Modern farming is no longer a solo pursuit. The most successful growers—the ones consistently setting records and maximizing profitability—aren’t just working harder; they’re working smarter by learning from others, analyzing their data, and applying proven management practices.
Total Acre exists to bring forward-thinking farmers together. It’s a place where innovation is shared, strategies are tested, and results are measured. When farmers collaborate, everyone grows.
Ask yourself:
Are you open to new ideas that could maximize yield and your farm’s ROI?
Are you willing to share what works and learn from those achieving measurable success?
Are you ready to replace guesswork with data-driven decisions?
At Total Acre, we believe in the power of farmers helping farmers. Through shared knowledge, practical education, and a strong community of like-minded growers, we help you unlock your farm’s full potential.
Your next breakthrough might come from a conversation, a clinic, or a single piece of data. Join a community built on results, relationships, and the relentless pursuit of better.