USDA scientists are backing artificial intelligence’s positive impact on farmers

Technology has been like a helping hand, filling the gaps of labor loss. Scientists with USDA tout the ability to allow farmers and ranchers to be in multiple places at once.

“You can be mapping the plants, mapping their performance, like how big are they, are they under stress, what kind of stress are they experiencing? Water and drought stress - is it nutrient stress? Or you could be quantifying, have you lost plants out there like, do you have less plants just because something died? Then you could also be using that to deliver nutrients or deliver other types of management practices,” said Steven Mirsky.

Technology is costly, and that has been a barrier for a lot of small operations, with some drones, for example, reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

Related Stories
A new 4-H partnership with Tractor Supply and Starlink will bring free internet access to 100 rural communities across 10 states.
The University of Georgia is developing new ag technology with robotics and AI to identify pigweed and remotely track insect populations in crop production.
Satellite data and artificial intelligence could help USDA improve crop estimates while reducing reliance on producer surveys.
Durastak technology is Syngenta’s latest corn rootworm innovation and is available for farmers to purchase for the 2027 growing season.
As fertilizer prices pressure farm budgets, NACHURS sales manager Blake Bird shares nutrient-efficiency strategies at the Farm Progress Show ahead of 2027.
Operations Center PRO Service is adding new capabilities to help farmers diagnose and repair equipment.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Strong U.S. demand for Argentine lean beef is giving exporters an attractive alternative to China, according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service staff in Buenos Aires.
Higher prices could make winter wheat more competitive as producers plan for 2027.
The new quota program could strengthen demand for U.S. cotton while raising concerns for textile manufacturers.
Lower feed costs are encouraging producers to keep cattle longer and add more weight.
The Internal Revenue Service issued updated emissions-rate guidance on September 8, while the Department of Energy revised its 45ZCF-GREET model.
Agriculture Shows
Agriculture is the most important industry in the world, and Ag PhD Daily brings you the information you need to best manage your business only on RFD-TV and RFD+
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.