Chemicals at 10% Over Cost is Actually a Thing : Talking Cash & Carry

Jan 19

Traditional ag retail is built on layers of margin, legacy distribution, and one-size-fits-all programs. Titan Immel took a different path—and it’s paying off.

In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we sit down with the founder of AgHub Midwest and Ten Percent Ag to break down how a 17-year-old seed dealer became a diversified ag entrepreneur serving tens of thousands of acres across the Midwest.

Titan doesn’t follow the traditional ag retail playbook—and that’s exactly why his businesses are growing.

Titan’s story starts early. While most teenagers were focused on sports or summer jobs, he was already selling seed and learning how the ag supply chain really works. That early exposure gave him two key insights:

farmers care deeply about value, not hype, and
margins matter on both sides of the transaction.

Those lessons ultimately pushed him away from conventional farming and toward building scalable ag service businesses.

The Independent Retail Model Behind AgHub Midwest

AgHub Midwest is built on an independent retailer mindset—flexible, tech-driven, and farmer-first.

In this episode, we dig into:

Why Titan chose independence over a traditional dealership path
How variable-rate prescriptions and precision technology actually drive ROI
Using logistics and data to remove inefficiencies instead of adding layers

Rather than selling products at farmers, Titan focuses on solving problems with them.

Ten Percent Ag: Chemicals Shipped Direct to the Farm

One of Titan’s most disruptive moves is Ten Percent Ag, where crop protection products are sold and shipped direct to the farm at roughly 10% over cost.

We discuss:

How direct-to-farm logistics change pricing transparency
Why fewer middlemen can mean better margins for everyone involved
What farmers should understand before switching purchasing models

This approach challenges legacy distribution—but it’s built around trust, simplicity, and speed.

Scaling Application, Technology, and Talent

Growth doesn’t stop at inputs.

Titan shares how he’s scaling:

Aerial application using helicopters and spray drones
Precision services across expanding geographies
Multiple businesses at once—without losing focus

We also tackle one of ag’s biggest challenges: hiring. Titan explains why character matters more than résumés, especially in rural markets where adaptability and accountability drive success.

Planning for 2.5x Growth (Without Breaking the Business)

One of the most practical takeaways from this episode is Titan’s willingness to bring in outside consultants to break growth plateaus. We talk about:

Recognizing when internal decision-making hits a ceiling
Using advisors to plan sustainable 2.5x expansion
Avoiding the trap of growing revenue without growing systems

A Blueprint for Modern Ag Entrepreneurship

This episode is a real-world look at modern ag entrepreneurship—where technology, logistics, people, and margins all have to work together.

Whether you’re a farmer, ag retailer, or someone thinking about starting something of your own, Titan’s story offers a blueprint for doing ag business differently—and sustainably.