Monte Bottens
Ag Solutions Network founder Monte Bottens has deep roots in agriculture. Monte is a fifth-generation Cambridge, IL farmer and began his farming career with two bred sows given to him by his grandmother. Thanks to great guidance from his dad and equipment-sharing startup assistance, today he farms nearly a thousand acres of corn and soybeans.
Monte attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL majoring in business while farming, selling seed corn, and working at his local CaseIH dealership. After graduation, he managed a Case IH dealership in Aledo, IL and later in Firebaugh, CA. It is this unique combination of education, ag sales, farming, and business management and ownership that has given Monte what he calls his “agri-business degree.”
In 2004, Monte started California Ag Solutions (CAS) in Madera, California with the goal to help farmers better understand and adopt reduced tillage techniques, and improve their water and nutrient efficiency. In February 2011, Monte started Ag Solutions Network to expand beyond California and to start growing the network of dealers ASN currently serves throughout the western United States. ASN provides the Power2Gro Crop Production System which includes both a suite of liquid fertilizers and biostimulants as well as education and implementation guidance of soil health principles and regenerative ag practices.
Monte served on the leadership team of CASI (Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation Center) and on the Board of Directors for the E.A.T. Foundation. He has presented at the National No-Till and National Strip-Till Conferences, Conservation Cropping Seminars, the Silicon Valley Ag Tech Conference, Practical Farmers of Iowa, University of California at Davis, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno State University.
Driven by a desire to coach and build up others, Monte spent time mentoring and investing in agriculture startup businesses with the Sacramento Angels and Riverbend Angels groups. Monte is always on the lookout for innovation and supports ventures that shift mindsets and advance business. As a farmer, agribusiness owner, regenerative and ag tech investor, Monte is optimistic about agriculture’s future.