On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Danny Bernstein, CEO and managing partner of Reservoir and Reservoir Farms, returned for Part 2 of his conversation about the future of California agriculture, including a major new partnership with John Deere.
Bernstein announced that John Deere and Reservoir have signed a $10 million, multi-year partnership aimed at supporting agricultural technology and homegrown startups working on challenges facing California growers.
According to Bernstein, the relationship grew with help from Western Growers, which introduced Reservoir to John Deere’s high-value crop team. After spending time with Reservoir, its startups and California agriculture, Bernstein said Deere decided it wanted to help expand the effort.
The investment fits into Reservoir’s broader effort to bring Silicon Valley-style innovation directly into agricultural communities. Bernstein argued that technology will be increasingly important as growers contend with labor shortages, water challenges, rising costs and the loss of agricultural acreage.
Labor was another major part of the conversation. Bernstein pointed to federal H-2A figures showing that just 182 of more than 415,000 advertised agricultural positions received a domestic applicant in fiscal year 2025, illustrating what he sees as the need for both a more workable agricultural labor system and greater automation.
Bernstein also discussed the growing interest in data centers in rural communities. Rather than simply opposing that development, he suggested agricultural regions should consider how those investments could benefit local communities through water infrastructure, schools, workforce training and other resources.
Ultimately, Bernstein said the success of Reservoir will be measured by whether the technology it supports actually works for growers.
“We actually have to deliver technology that works.”
With the John Deere partnership, expansion into the Central Valley and more startups working directly alongside agriculture, Bernstein sees an opportunity to better connect two of California’s biggest strengths: technology and farming.
Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.
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