Farmers Business Network (FBN®), the pioneering digital agricultural platform and farmer-to-farmer network, has announced a $50 million funding round to accelerate its next phase of innovation. The new capital will fuel investments in artificial intelligence (AI), expand FBN’s marketplace offerings, and further support its mission to enhance the financial and operational prosperity of family farms across North America.
With backing from prominent investors including GV (Google Ventures), Temasek, Arteqin, Colle Capital, and T. Rowe Price, FBN is doubling down on its vision to become the go-to digital hub for ag commerce, financial services, and AI-powered farm intelligence.
A Growing Digital Network Built for Farmers
FBN’s network has now grown to include over 117,000 farms, collectively representing more than 187 million acres in the U.S. and Canada. The company has created a thriving, Amazon-style e-commerce platform that offers more than 7,200 agricultural products, spanning crop protection, seed, livestock feed, fencing supplies, and more. Most items are available with direct-to-farm delivery within 24 to 72 hours—a critical time-saver during the growing season.
Recent data from Stratus Ag Research indicates a major shift in how farmers purchase ag inputs. In 2025, 35% of North American farmers visited FBN while shopping for inputs, and the number of farmers purchasing those inputs online grew 86% compared to 2023. This surge reflects an industry-wide pivot toward digital tools and cost efficiency—two core areas where FBN continues to lead.
“FBN is transforming the way farmers access products, services, and insights,” said Diego Casanello, CEO of FBN. “We’re committed to helping family farms operate more profitably by reducing operating costs and simplifying the supply chain. Our objective is to cut on-farm expenses by at least 20% compared to traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.”
Financing the Future of Farming
A central pillar of FBN’s offering is its agricultural finance division, which has now deployed nearly $3 billion in credit to North American growers. FBN Finance gives farmers access to competitive loans for operating costs, land, equipment, and crop inputs—delivering flexible capital solutions tailored to the unique needs of seasonal businesses.
As farmers continue to deal with market volatility, input price swings, and climate-related risk, streamlined access to capital has become critical. FBN is positioning itself not only as a marketplace but as a full-service financial partner for the agricultural community.
Deepening Commitment to Artificial Intelligence
FBN is significantly increasing investment in its AI capabilities, viewing artificial intelligence as a transformative force for the ag industry. “AI allows us to provide highly personalized and timely insights to our farmer members,” Casanello said. “It also enables us to automate internal operations, lower overhead costs, and enhance the customer experience.”
One of the most notable outcomes of this investment is “Norm,” FBN’s proprietary large language model (LLM) tailored specifically for agriculture. Initially designed to answer agronomy-related questions, Norm has recently been upgraded to assist with crop marketing inquiries. FBN plans to extend Norm’s capabilities to include personalized guidance on agronomy, financing, and risk management, making it a comprehensive digital assistant for farmers.
Streamlining for Strategic Growth
In line with its strategic transformation, FBN is refining its business model to focus on core digital strengths. This evolution includes realigning its workforce to better support key initiatives in AI, platform development, and global supply chain efficiency. While these organizational changes have involved difficult decisions, they are intended to position FBN for long-term, scalable success.
“Our evolution as a company is centered on ensuring we deliver lasting value to our members,” Casanello said. “We’re building a future where every farmer has access to the tools, capital, and insights they need to succeed—no matter the size of their operation.”
Expanding Marketplace and Product Portfolio
To meet the growing needs of its diverse farmer base, FBN is also broadening its product lines and opening the platform to third-party sellers. These moves reflect FBN’s commitment to building a robust, transparent, and competitive digital marketplace for agriculture.
Key expansion highlights include:
- Private Label and Third-Party Crop Protection: FBN is boosting its selection of crop protection, biological, and nutritional inputs for key commodity crops including corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, alfalfa, and wheat. The company is growing its in-house Willowood USA® and Farmers First® brands, while enabling third-party sellers to reach customers through FBN’s ecosystem.
- Canadian Market Growth: FBN Canada is ramping up its product offerings, adding new wheat crop protection solutions, bulk liquid fertilizers, and equipment financing tools. The Canadian division also plans to open two new distribution centers in 2026, enhancing service speed and regional support.
- New Seed Platform: The company is launching a third-party seed marketplace with partners like Seitec Genetics®, providing an expanded catalog of seeds for corn, soybean, sorghum, alfalfa, and cover crops. This move ensures greater variety and competitive pricing for farmers looking to diversify their planting strategies.
- Livestock Product Expansion: FBN’s livestock division continues to grow rapidly, with new product additions including nutritional feed from brands like Ridley® and Sweetlix®. The platform also now includes fencing and a wider array of farm and ranch essentials, responding to the needs of mixed operations and livestock producers.
