Learning by Doing: A Farmer’s Experience with the Rain 360

When farmers can see equipment in action, ask questions, and hear directly from another farmer about what it takes to make a system work, the conversation becomes much more valuable.

That was the goal of a recent producer-led watershed event hosted by Ryan Elbe and family with Golden E Dairy, and co-hosted by Cedar Creek Farmers and Clean Farm Families. The event brought farmers together to learn more about the Rain 360 system, including how it works, what it takes to set up and operate, and how it can be used to manage manure and nutrient applications.

Seeing the System in Action

Ryan demonstrated the Rain 360 unit during the event, including a short application of leachate. Being able to see the system operating in the field generated additional questions and gave attendees a better understanding of how the equipment works beyond simply hearing about it.

For Ryan, one of the biggest takeaways from using the system has been the importance of taking the time to learn the equipment.

"If you're going to run it, you really need to know the ins and outs of the machine."

Ryan explained that getting the system set up correctly required an investment of both time and attention. His operations made changes along the way as they learned more about how the machine performed. That included adjustments to components such as the orifices on the drops to get the system working properly with liquid manure due to the adjustment for 20" rows.

His experience has reinforced the idea that new technology often takes some time to learn and fine-tune- but that investment can pay off.

A Quick Return on Investment

One of the most encouraging results for Ryan has been the economics. Ryan says the unit has already paid for itself in just under 10 months.

That quick return has made the investment especially valuable to his operation and is one of the reasons he hopes the demonstration sparked interest among other farmers.

"Press Start and Walk Away"

When asked what advice he would give another farmer considering the system, Ryan kept it simple: be willing to invest the time upfront to learn how it works.

Once you understand the system and get it dialed in, Ryan says the operation becomes much simpler.

His comparison was to implementing GPS technology on the farm. There is a learning curve at first, but once you get comfortable with it, you may wonder why you didn't make the change sooner.

"Once you take the time commitment to learn the system, all you have to do is press start and walk away. It's that simple."

Ryan sees a lot of value in the Rain 360 and is hopeful that sharing his experience will help other farmers determine whether the technology could fit their own operations.

Farmer-to-Farmer Learning

The strong turnout at the event was also a reminder of the value of personal connections. Ryan personally reached out to farmers he thought might be interested, and many of them attended.

That farmer-to-farmer connection is an important part of producer-led watershed work. Rather than simply talking about a conservation practice or piece of equipment, farmers have the opportunity to see it firsthand, ask questions, and hear what another producer has learned through actual use.

Ryan is open to talking with other farmers who have questions about the Rain 360 and sharing what he has learned. Mike Perry, a Rain 360 representative, is also available as a resource for farmers interested in learning more.

Events like this give farmers a chance to learn from one another, explore new ideas, and determine what might make sense for their own operations.

Thank you to Ryan Elbe and Golden E Dairy for opening the farm and sharing their experience, and to Cedar Creek Farmers and all who participated in the event.