Industry Ignited Podcast

Turning Niche Crops Into Profitable Systems: Andrew Bish of BISH Enterprises & Hemp Harvest Works | Ep. 53

Leeanne Aguilar, Ph.D. Season 1 Episode 53

In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar talks with Andrew Bish, CEO of BISH Enterprises and Hemp Harvest Works (Giltner, Nebraska) and President of the Hemp Feed Coalition, about what it takes to modernize agriculture when the barriers aren’t just engineering—they’re markets, policy, and perception. Andrew shares how returning to his small-town roots shaped his leadership, how corporate lessons (including what not to do) influenced his long-term approach, and why he’s drawn to “weird problems” in niche crops where real innovation still exists. Hemp’s future in American farming depends on building an entire system—machines that harvest it efficiently, supply chains that make it profitable, and FDA/AAFCO approvals that normalize it as safe animal feed. From designing equipment that boosts combine efficiency to pushing science-based evidence that THC transfer fears are unfounded, Andrew paints a practical vision of hemp as a third rotational commodity that can improve soil health, reduce chemical dependence, stabilize farm income, and accelerate regenerative agriculture—if regulation catches up to reality.