About Advanced Farming Systems

Great agricultural innovations often begin with practical field experience, scientific observation, and the recognition that traditional production systems can be improved. Advanced Farming Systems™ was founded by Agronomist James Bates and Dr. Colinda Ekster, Ph.D. in Agricultural Innovation and Environmental Technology, two professionals with deep agricultural roots and decades of combined experience across farming, agronomy, crop inputs, risk management, and agricultural business operations.

Agronomist James Bates was raised on a farm in Nebraska and developed a practical understanding of production agriculture at an early age. He later advanced his professional career through work with companies including Monsanto™, Compass Minerals, AgroLiquid™, and Southern States, where he was involved in agricultural research, field-level product evaluation, grower support, and sales. His background in agronomy, combined with his interest in improving conventional crop-production practices, contributed directly to the development of Auxx-It™, an agricultural technology designed to improve production efficiency and support stronger crop-performance outcomes.

Dr. Ekster, also grew up in agriculture as a 12th-generation tobacco farmer in North Carolina. She brings more than 40 years of experience as a crop insurance agent and has worked in her family’s farm supply business since the mid-1970s. Over the course of her career, Dr. Ekster has owned and operated several successful businesses, many of which were directly connected to the agricultural sector. Her experience in crop insurance, farm supply, producer relations, and agricultural business management gives her a strong ability to understand grower needs, evaluate operational risk, and communicate effectively with farmers and agricultural partners.  She is also the co-Inventor of the world’s first stableHOCL™ that has already started to revolutionized the Disinfection Industry.

In the fall of 2021, Agronomist James Bates and Dr. Colinda Ekster began collaborating on a new approach to improving farm profitability and crop-production performance. By evaluating the science behind grain production and field-level nutrient efficiency, they developed Auxx-It™ as a practical agricultural platform for growers. After three years of research, evaluation, and refinement, Auxx-It is now positioned for broader distribution throughout the agricultural sector.

Auxx-It™ is designed to support improved crop performance and may significantly improve a farmer’s return on investment when properly integrated into production practices. To date, Advanced Farming Systems™ has focused its research and field-development work on corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum.

Advanced Farming Systems™ works with independent testing and validation partners, including Biome Makers, to help verify product-performance claims and better understand the biological and agronomic impact of Auxx-It. AFS also conducts research and field trials in collaboration with North Carolina State University (NCSU)™. These partnerships reflect AFS’s commitment to scientific validation, transparent evaluation, and the selection of credible research partners.

In 2025, AFS™ will expand its research activities to include cotton and sugarcane, while continuing to evaluate additional crop opportunities in future years. The company’s long-term objective is to advance practical, science-based agricultural technologies that improve grower profitability, production efficiency, and field-level performance.