Watching AI: Welcome to the Dawn of Smarter Farm Tools

I listened to a TED Talk, featuring Nobel Prize winner Geoffry Hinton, who is one of the originators of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He mentioned ways AI can be used beyond what we already know today. That includes how AI helps us understand complex systems, such as our own biology and making medical decisions more accurate. During his talk, he mentioned how agriculture and crops themselves can be improved using AI. My mind immediately jumped to where we already have AI impacting our industry, which is in farm tools.

Since we’re in such an early phase of the new world AI is ushering in, there have been some growing pains. The two main areas of difficulty I’ve heard about are the challenges related to data diversity and environment.

Soil and crops are vastly diverse. Leaving AI-driven weeders must process an enormous number of data points to accurately identify the keeper plants and to safely remove the weeders or unwanted seedlings.

The other challenge is the environment machinery operates in. Not only is it dirty and wet, but other problems like rocks, rodents, insects, and too-tall plants can damage the machinery.

In the past several years, I’ve been amazed at how well those issues have been tackled. But what can AI help beyond what we currently know? Soil health? Understanding how diseases gain new strains so quickly?

One person who will be watching those changes is the University of California’s Steven Fennimore. He reports on how well smart weeders perform against how we currently farm, with herbicide and without.

I’m writing this in early February 2025 as our new administration is taking up the reins. At this point, we’ve had two scares of our current Extension system being threatened. The first was pulled back, but now Specialty Crop Block Grants funds look like they will be frozen. They’re the lifeblood of the public research done by people like Fennimore, Clemson’s Anthony Keinath, University of Arizona’s John Palumbo, and many others across the country. They do good work on behalf of the produce industry. By the time you read this, that particular threat may be gone. But it’s clear needed research is vulnerable to being defunded.

I urge you to reach out to your representative and senators and explain which USDA-funded programs you use often and why they’re needed. Compared to the rest of the country, we’re a small group. But the food we generate is vital to American interests.

Oh, One More Thing

Below are just a few of the programs USDA funds for specialty crops. You’d be surprised how many of the benefits you reap from your local universities or financing you receive originates with one of these.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Includes research, education, and marketing.

Specialty Crop Multi State Grant Program.

Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Support research and Extension projects.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops. Helps produce expand markets and manage higher costs.

Farm loans.

Conservation programs.

Disaster assistance.