Managing Costs, Maximizing Returns

A historic ranch with a modern outlook

Located in the Wood River Valley of central Idaho, Picabo Livestock has been in continuous operation since 1883. What began as a railroad-era land settlement is now a multi-generational family business growing malt barley for brands like Coors and Anheuser-Busch, along with the production of organic alfalfa and running a crossbred cattle herd.

Nicholas Purdy represents the sixth generation to manage the operation, working alongside his grandfather Nick and uncle Pat. While proud of their heritage, the family knew that modern agriculture demands more than legacy knowledge and elbow grease. “We're in a margin business,” Nicholas says. “We're price takers, meaning we don't set what our crops sell for. The only way we can really improve our financial outcome is by controlling costs and being efficient with every acre.”

The shift began when Nicholas returned to the ranch after nearly a decade working in software. “I'd worked across dozens of tech companies, and I knew the power of data,” he recalls. “We needed that same clarity on the ranch, something that would let us zoom in on field-level profitability and make decisions backed by numbers, not just instincts.”

From data points to dollar signs

Picabo Livestock adopted Agworld in 2022, after comparing it to a range of farm management information systems. “I started with Crunchbase and worked my way through every ag tech company I could find,” says Nicholas. “Agworld stood out not just because of its integrations, but because of its flexibility. It could grow with us.

Using Agworld, Nicholas and the team now track inputs, application history, and financial performance on a per-field basis. Costs, including labor, fuel, custom applications, and product inputs, are entered into Agworld, allowing real-time vizibility into each field's performance. “I can pull Agworld up on my phone and show my uncle or grandfather a single field's gross margin,” Nicholas says. “We might not have had the highest yields, but if that field has the best profit margin, that's a win. We're not running a hobby farm; we're running a business.”

Agworld's reporting features have also streamlined communications across the operation. Work orders are printed in English and Spanish for the team, while high-level reports help stakeholders understand where improvements are needed, or where success is being replicated. “Even my grandfather, who's not a tech guy, likes seeing the reports, especially when the numbers are good,” Nicholas laughs.

Tailored decisions, field by field

One of the biggest advantages Agworld provides Picabo Livestock is the ability to compare data across fields and seasons. “Instead of treating every field the same, we can tailor strategies based on what the data tells us,” Nicholas explains. “If a barley field has high inputs but low returns, we rethink our approach for next year. If a field had a strong return using mostly compost, we may expand that strategy elsewhere.”

While the farm continues to explore regenerative practices, including organic amendments, rotational grazing, and reduced passes, those decisions are now grounded in data. “We use Agworld to prove that regeneration isn't just good for the land, it can be good for the bottom line too,” says Nicholas. “But the key is being able to measure it.” The Purdy family works with a local agronomy provider for fertility planning, and their recommendations are imported directly into Agworld. “We use custom-blended products, not your standard 16-16-16,” Nicholas explains. “Agworld's been great about helping us build a system that supports those kinds of nuanced decisions.”

Building for a precision future

Looking ahead, Nicholas sees Agworld as a critical piece of their future infrastructure, especially as they prepare for a full shift into precision applications. Right now, data collected in Agworld is building the foundation for variable-rate planting and nutrient applications, which will become possible as older equipment is upgraded. “We're planning for our next planter to have section control and variable-rate capabilities,” Nicholas says. “When we're ready to make that investment, we'll already have years of mapped data in Agworld ready to go. That's going to make the transition seamless.”

With integrations into the John Deere Operations Center, Agworld can generate application prescriptions, monitor NDVI and satellite imagery, and layer in historical data for even better insights. “We've got ten years of data, including older layers that Agworld imported for us,” says Nicholas. “That history matters. It's what helps us make better choices, season after season.”

Focused on profit, backed by data

For Nicholas, Agworld isn't just a record-keeping system but a strategic partner. The ability to measure costs, calibrate decisions, and prove ROI has transformed the way Picabo Livestock operates. “Our management has changed because of what we now know,” he says. “We're tracking things in Agworld that we never used to track. We're analyzing things we used to guess at. That shift, from guessing to knowing, that's what makes the biggest difference.”

The team at Picabo Livestock continues to adapt, evolve, and grow, not just with more acres or bigger yields, but with smarter business decisions, field by field. And the Agworld team is helping them do it, one margin improvement at a time, Nicholas concludes: “Our Agworld Customer Success Manager is one of the best I've ever worked with, and I used to recruit Customer Success Managers for tech companies for 10 years prior to returning to the family farm. Because of the knowledge base and creativity of the Agworld Customer Success team, we have been able to achieve so much; we wouldn't be where we are without them involved.”