Craig Ganssle, the founder and CEO of Farmwave, didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact, his career in agriculture didn’t happen by design.
For over 30 years, Ganssle built a distinguished career in technology, working with AI and image recognition as early as 1995 while serving in the military. His path into agriculture was accidental but transformative, sparked by an encounter that would lead him to rethink how technology could solve age-old farming challenges.
It all started with a pair of Google Glass.
As one of the smart glasses’ first users, Ganssle was invited to a John Deere Developer Conference in Iowa to demonstrate its capabilities. Someone asked if the device could capture crop images using voice commands during the event. This seemingly simple thought led Ganssle to pose a more profound question: Why not use AI to analyze these images and provide actionable insights instantly?
The idea marked a turning point.
Ganssle realized that despite agriculture’s reliance on visual observations—like pest identification and crop health monitoring—AI was barely being applied to the sector. This realization led him to bridge the gap between technology and farming.
Building Solutions through Collaboration
Over a decade later, Farmwave stands as a testament to Ganssle’s vision, blending his 30-plus years of technological expertise with the wisdom of seasoned agronomists.
“The big story,” Ganssle reflects, “is how two industries—agriculture and technology—can come together to solve real-world problems.”
Farmwave’s success stems from its collaborative approach. Farmers and crop advisors bring decades of agronomic knowledge, while Farmwave contributes cutting-edge AI solutions. This partnership has created tools that deliver immediate, tangible value to farmers in the field.
Ganssle emphasizes that his journey into agriculture wasn’t about replacing expertise but amplifying it.
“Our partners and advisors have forgotten more about farming than I’ll ever know. But together, we’ve developed solutions that truly make a difference.”
Tackling Grain Loss: A $2 Billion Problem
Farmwave’s primary focus is grain loss, which costs U.S. farmers over $2 billion annually- and that’s just for corn. Traditional methods of measuring grain loss, such as hand-counting kernels in the dirt or using outdated strike plate sensors are labor-intensive, slow, and imprecise. With labor shortages exacerbating the problem, farmers often skip these checks altogether, leaving significant revenue on the ground.
With Farmwave’s real-time harvest loss system, farmers no longer have to choose between saving time and saving money. Farmwave’s AI-powered harvest loss detection system automates this process, delivering up-to-the-minute granular data. Using camera sensors mounted on combines, the system provides over 140 counts per acre—a vast improvement to the sporadic hand-checks farmers typically perform. The cameras detect losses and pinpoint their source, whether from the header, the combine itself, or even specific sections of the machinery.
This precision empowers farmers to make immediate adjustments.
“One farmer in Illinois discovered he was losing 16 bushels off the left side of his header. Farmwave identified the issue instantly, enabling him to make a quick mechanical adjustment and significantly reduce losses,” Ganssle recalled.
Beyond the Combine: Adapting to Farmers’ Needs
"We designed Farmwave so it could be used by every farmer. It had to be easy to add to any combine, new or old," Ganssle said.
Farmwave’s technology is designed to be accessible and versatile. As a standalone, third-party retrofit system, Farmwave works on any make or model of combine - whether farmers have a brand new combine or one that’s seen its fair share of harvests.
The system supports a wide range of crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, cotton, and edible beans. Its cameras, held in place by industrial magnets, can be customized to fit different equipment setups.
“Most farmers use a three-camera system,” Ganssle explains, “but it can support up to ten cameras for more complex setups, like peanut harvesters. Farmers can easily install it in hours, making it flexible and user-friendly.”
Farmwave is continually evolving, supporting crops like canola, barley, oats, lentils, and peas. The upcoming software update will include real-time recommendations, helping farmers optimize their equipment settings based on detected losses—a feature particularly valuable for operators with less experience.
Solving Challenges with AI
Farmwave tackles challenges beyond just grain loss.
Labor shortages remain a pressing issue in agriculture, with farmers struggling to find skilled operators to minimize losses. Ganssle notes that many farmers can only drive one combine themselves, relying on hired operators for the others—people who may lack the expertise or time to perform manual loss checks.
Farmwave eliminates this bottleneck by automating the process. Its cameras capture images every three seconds, and results are displayed on a tablet in the cab, allowing farmers to monitor losses in real-time. By reducing the need for manual labor, the system enables operators to focus on strategic tasks, such as equipment maintenance and crop management.
Driving Sustainability and Food Security
Farmwave’s technology reduces waste and contributes to a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem. By recovering grain that would otherwise be lost, farmers can allocate resources more efficiently and improve profitability. This approach aligns with a growing global need for food security as the population continues to rise and agricultural inputs like fuel and equipment become more expensive.
“We’re helping farmers do more with less,” Ganssle emphasizes. “It’s not just about producing more food, it’s about wasting less. Every kernel saved makes a difference—for the farmer, the environment, and the world.”
Transforming the Future of Farming
Farmwave’s impact goes beyond financial gains. The technology has created more motivated and efficient workforces by improving working conditions for farm laborers and reducing manual tasks. Farmers now have the tools to optimize their operations in real-time, leading to better yields, lower costs, and a more sustainable future.
Looking ahead, Ganssle is optimistic about AI’s role in agriculture. Farmwave continues to expand its offerings, exploring machine learning and other advanced technologies to address emerging challenges. While scaling globally presents hurdles, the company is committed to leading the charge in AI-driven farming solutions.
“AI and farming are inseparable now,” Ganssle concludes. “What started as a technological experiment has become a mission to empower farmers and revolutionize agriculture. This is just the beginning.”
