The Climate Corporation
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture technology |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | David Friedberg, Siraj Khaliq |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Climate FieldView platform (Field Health Advisor, Script Creator, Climate FieldView Drive, Climate FieldView Prime) |
| Parent | Bayer (since 2018) |
| Website | climate |
The Climate Corporation is a technology-driven agriculture firm that utilizes weather, soil, and field intelligence to assist farmers in maximizing crop yields and mitigating risks.
History
Established in 2006 under the name WeatherBill by ex-Google engineers David Friedberg and Siraj Khaliq, the company initially specialized in weather-related insurance products tailored for ski resorts, events, and agricultural clients. By 2010, it redirected its efforts solely toward agricultural markets, introducing Total Weather Insurance specifically for corn and soybean producers.
Between late 2010 and early 2011, WeatherBill obtained Series B investment from SV Angel. On October 11, 2011, the business rebranded itself as The Climate Corporation.
In June 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted the company authorization to manage federal crop insurance programs for the year 2014. Monsanto acquired The Climate Corporation in October 2013 for an estimated $1.1 billion, marking a strategic move into the digital agriculture sector.
Post-acquisition, in November 2013, the company introduced advisory platforms Climate Basic and Climate Pro aimed at empowering farmers with data-driven insights. Early 2014 saw integration with Monsanto's Integrated Farming System and Precision Planting units alongside the acquisition of Ames, Iowa-based soil analytics firm Solum.
December 2014 featured the purchase of Chicago’s agtech startup 640 Labs, known for its Drive device—subsequently renamed FieldView Drive—which synchronizes tractor telemetry with mobile applications.
In July 2015, The Climate Corporation divested its crop insurance operations to AmTrust Financial Services, concentrating exclusively on its digital agriculture platform. The product line was subsequently rebranded as Climate FieldView in September of that year.
An agreement to sell Precision Planting LLC to John Deere was reached in November 2015 but was later canceled in May 2017 due to objections from the U.S. Department of Justice over antitrust concerns.
March 2016 marked an expansion of data connectivity through multiple API partnerships with agronomic retailers and software providers, improving platform interoperability.
In June 2018, Bayer completed its acquisition of Monsanto—including The Climate Corporation and Precision Planting—strengthening its footprint within digital farming technologies.
Products
At the 2015 Farm Progress Show, The Climate Corporation unveiled its product suite under the Climate FieldView brand. This platform applies advanced data analytics to offer farmers actionable recommendations derived from historical crop performance, field conditions, and weather patterns.
Highlighted offerings include:
- Field Health Advisor: Utilizes satellite imagery and vegetation mapping to track crop vitality.
- Script Creator: Allows growers to develop variable-rate application prescriptions prior to planting.
- Climate FieldView Drive: A Bluetooth-enabled hardware device that connects directly to tractors or combines harvesters to capture operational data during planting and harvesting; information is displayed live through the Climate FieldView Cab application.
- Climate FieldView Prime: Provides short-term weather forecasting up to three hours ahead alongside scouting tools for precise monitoring of specific field zones throughout the growing season.
Together, these solutions comprise an integrated portfolio designed to advance precision agriculture practices by improving farm management and enhancing decision-making capabilities.