Artificial intelligence on the farm is no longer a sci-fi dream, but a reality. But there are costs as well as benefits, as the Senate Ag Committee heard at a recent A.I. hearing.
Artificial intelligence on the farm could have major benefits in terms of helping farmers do more with less help, therefore navigating labor shortages.
The benefits are clear, according to UC Davis’ Mason Earles, who co-leads the USDA-funded AI Institute for Next-Generation Food Systems.
A.I. can also help farmers to target weeds with precision herbicide application, making for a more efficient tool to fight weeds.
However, with more technology comes more risks. Jose Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University.
Deere and Company’s Senior V.P. and Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman says the Moline, Illinois firm already builds security into its software.
Hindman says producers have the final say on data privacy. More research is clearly needed in this rapidly growing sector of the ag industry. Perhaps it is something lawmakers may consider as part of the next farm bill.
