21 Laws of Life and Agronomy

What I Learned in Conversation with Matt Gosling ...

Few people I know have pushed the boundaries of learning, business, and being a family man as far as Matt Gosling.

One of the most rewarding aspects of hosting the podcast is revisiting the conversations and finding new layers of meaning in what the interviewees share.

Often, there’s a treasure trove of wisdom that doesn’t fully reveal itself in the moment.

While editing my conversation with Matt, I uncovered a wealth of valuable insights. His 21 years of experience in agronomy, farming, investing, and various ventures revealed a tonne of nuggets.

Here are the "21 Laws of Life and Agronomy" according to Matt Gosling.

1. Data is Just Numbers Until Intellect Joins the Equation

"Data is just a bunch of numbers until intellect becomes a part of the equation. You need to learn how to sort the wheat from the chaff in a hurry, get down to the bottom of it, make big decisions and make influential decisions."

2. Every Farm is a Multi-Million Dollar Business—Treat It Like One

"It doesn't take much of a farm to be a multi-million dollar business. So treat it like that. Be a business."

3. The Hard Recommendation is Often the Right One

"I scouted this field north of the feedlot, 983 acres... I was out there for three or four hours. I came back and I said, ‘Ron, I can’t find any oats.’ He said, ‘Go look again.’ So I went out there the next day for another three or four hours. I couldn’t find any oats. I came back to the office, I said, ‘Don’t spray it. Competitive barley crop, it’s awesome.’ I was wet behind the ears, green. He says, ‘Okay, one more time, I’ll do whatever you say. And if there’s any oats in that field, I’m putting a six by six foot sign up on Highway 24 saying this field was scouted by Matt Gosling and I told him not to spray.’

There weren’t any oats. That was the start of what I like to call the hard recommendation. The easy thing to do is to spray, spray, spray more, more, more. The hard recommendation was, 'Don’t spray it. It’s not worth it.'"

4. Always Challenge the Status Quo in Agronomy

"Just because it worked last year doesn’t mean it's going to work again this year. Every season, every field is different, and you’ve got to treat it that way. The worst thing you can do in agronomy is apply the same solution across the board without understanding the uniqueness of each situation. That’s where you get caught up. There’s no one-size-fits-all in this game."

5. Surround Yourself with Smart People

"As a kid, I would drive by this farm, glued to the window, admiring the combines lined up along the road, the shop, and the bins. At the time, I didn’t even know what a good crop looked like, but that farm turned out to be Bruce Farms. I’ve had a relationship with them since the summer of 1999—25 years now. Ron Warrack has been one of my greatest and most valued mentors. I truly believe in the idea that you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and Ron has been a huge influence on my life."

6. Patience Pays Off in Agronomy

"I ran into my old mentor, Brent Tarasoff, at AgriTrade last November. And I was just getting into it with him, saying, 'Brent, this lime is crap, man. Three, four hundred bucks an acre, what am I doing?' And Brent just cuts to the chase and says, 'How long has it been?' I said, 'It's been three or four years.' He said, 'Just keep waiting. It takes five.' I'm like, 'Who’s got time for that?'"

7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Dumb Questions

"I've never been afraid to ask questions, like why? So I stick my hand up, and I said, ‘What’s an A-series contract?’ And he said, ‘What do you do here, son?’ I said, ‘I buy grain.’ He says, ‘Pardon? You don’t know what an A-series contract is and you’re in here buying grain?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, tell me what they are.’ The only way to get experience is to get experience, and I didn’t hold back."

8. Zones Are Not Static—Agronomy Shouldn’t Be Either

"Zones are not set in stone. They change year over year, field by field, depending on things like weather patterns, soil health, and the crop itself. You have to be flexible. You can't assume that what worked in one season is going to work in the next, because agriculture is constantly evolving.

9. Balance is Key: More Nitrogen Doesn’t Always Mean More Yield

"The knee-jerk reaction is always to throw more nitrogen at the problem. But that’s not always the answer. Nitrogen is important, sure, but it’s part of a bigger picture. If you don’t have the right balance of nutrients, you're not going to get the yield you're after. It’s about understanding what the crop really needs and when it needs it. That’s where the true success comes in."

10. The Farmer Has to Win—Always

"At the end of the day, the farmer has to come out ahead. If the advice we give doesn’t help the farmer win, then what’s the point? You can’t lose sight of that—everything else is just noise if the farmer isn’t seeing the benefit. That’s the only way the system works."

11. Learn by Doing: Experience is the Best Teacher

"I always say to the guys, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. You learn more from being out in the field, walking it, testing things yourself than you ever will from sitting behind a desk. That’s where the real knowledge comes from—getting out there and seeing it for yourself. It’s one thing to talk about it, but you won’t know until you’ve been in the thick of it."

12. Innovate or Fall Behind

"If you're not innovating in agronomy, you’re falling behind. We’re always talking about variable rate spreading, different nutrient applications—those are the things that can push your farm forward. You have to be willing to adopt new technologies and strategies, or you’ll be left in the dust. Farming isn’t static, and neither should your approach be."

13. Logistics Trumps Agronomy

“You can have the best agronomic plan, the best nutrient program, the most cutting-edge data, but if you can't get the product to the field, or if you don't have the labor or equipment to execute, it's all for nothing. It doesn’t matter how great the science is if you can’t put it into practice. That's why logistics is just as important as the agronomy itself.”

14. Be Transparent and Build Relationships

"If you want to last in this business, it’s all about trust and relationships. You can’t go around badmouthing competitors or cutting corners. Your reputation is everything. Build relationships with the farmer, with your partners, and even with competitors. That’s how you stay in the game for the long haul."

15. The Future is in Precision—But Know When to Stick to Basics

"Precision farming is where we're heading, and it's a game-changer. But at the same time, there's still value in some of the old-school methods. Sometimes you don't need a high-tech solution—just common sense and years of experience can get the job done. Know when to use the tech, but don't forget the basics."

16. Your Zones Should Be Built on Data, Not Guesswork

"You can't manage what you don't measure. Every field is different, and you need to base your zones on real data—whether it’s yield, soil health, or elevation. Guesswork doesn’t cut it in this game anymore. You've got to know what's going on beneath the surface."

17. Don't Underestimate the Power of Sulfur

"People love to talk about nitrogen, but sulfur often gets overlooked. The reality is, sulfur is just as important for crop development, and you can’t afford to ignore it. It’s not just the big three nutrients—sulfur is part of that essential mix for a healthy yield."

18. Success is in the Details—And the Soil

"Agronomy is all about the little things. The details can make or break a season. Soil health is one of those foundational details. You can’t just focus on what's above ground—the soil is where the magic happens. Pay attention to the soil, and you'll see the results."

19. Adapt to the Future, But Never Forget the Fundamentals

"The next 20 years are going to bring massive changes to agriculture—technology, climate, you name it. But no matter what comes, the fundamentals will always be there. Don’t lose sight of what works, even as you adapt to what’s new."

20. Healthy Soil = Profitable Farm

"Your soil is your biggest asset, treat it that way. If your soil isn’t healthy, your farm isn’t profitable. Investing in soil health is like investing in any other asset. It pays off, year after year."

21. Never Retire—Passion is a Lifelong Commitment

"For people like us, agronomy and farming aren’t just jobs—they’re part of who we are. You don’t stop caring about it when you retire because you never truly retire from something you love. The passion is lifelong."

You can hear my entire conversation with Matt Gosling at growingthefuturepodcast.ca, anywhere you listen podcasts, or watch the episode on YouTube !