Why don't Farmers like subscription/acre models?

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By Dwain Duxson dwaind@farmtender.com.au

Why don't Farmers like subscription/acre models? - In the digital world, there are subscription models everywhere. Here at Farm Tender, we pay for about 10 subscriptions that help us with the day-to-day running of the business. 

I was listening to a podcast the other day out of the US, and they were saying that Farmers were leaving pay-per-acre models in droves. I know of a few Agro's here that use the acre model, and I'm sure it's a bit of a bone of contention with Farmers because it locks them in for a period of time. 

As for the subscription models, Farmers have never warmed to them, hence the reason why companies that introduce them never get any real traction. They do exist, but there are not many of them. I had a hair-brained idea to start a subscription model for Farm Tender that offered up half the commission if they sold something. It failed. I think I budgeted for 2500 members to take it up, and around 250 did, so about 10 percent. A hat full of people still use it, but it was a flop.

Aussie Farmers are very independent, so I can see why they shy away from subscriptions. Farmers are quite reluctant to be locked into something. Similar to the Co-op model we wrote about the other day. Most Co-op's in Australia Ag have been flops (except for a couple of Dairy ones) because Co-op's require commitment from the Farmers for them to succeed. 

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