Ag AI Is Growing — But Are Farmers Actually Using It?

Are farmers and ranchers using AI? The technology’s potential to advance agriculture is easy to see, but how many producers are actually putting it to use?

Agriculture has long served as a testing ground for AI, powering tools like autonomous tractors, satellite-based crop forecasting, and more. At the same time, the average U.S. farmer is 58 years old, and producers face demanding schedules and operational pressures that can make adopting new technology challenging.

MorganMyers surveyed farmers, ranchers, and agricultural retailers about whether and how they are using AI, where they see value, where improvements are needed and whether they trust the results. We compiled the findings into a new report that offers a closer look at how agriculture is approaching AI today and where it may be headed next.

MorganMyers’ 2026 survey found 75% of farmers and ranchers have used AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to support their operations, and nearly half of that group uses those tools weekly or more. That suggests agriculture — like much of the broader workforce — is in an experimental phase of adoption.

Other key findings include:

• General-purpose AI outpaces ag-platform AI, suggesting awareness, availability and workflow-fit remain barriers.
• AI adoption is uneven by segment: Dairy producers, younger farmers (under 35) and larger operations are the highest users. Lower adoption clusters among smaller operations, older farmers (51 and older) and row-crop producers.
• Farmer and rancher use of AI can largely be classified as practical and business oriented.
• AI is viewed as promising but unproven. Perceived value of AI is high, but so is distrust and skepticism.
• Retailers are more cautious than farmers, lagging in adoption, value and trust — and less likely to recommend AI tools in the near term.
• Proof, transparency and human validation will be needed to build trust in AI among farmers, ranchers and retailers.

Together, the survey findings and analysis help tell a more complete story of how agriculture is approaching the rapid evolution of AI.

“Farmers and ranchers aren’t resistant to AI,” says Greg Ehm, Senior VP of agriculture at MorganMyers. “Our survey confirms they’re trying it out and can already see areas where it delivers value and could help them become even better operators in the future.”

For more insight, continue reading at CropLife.com.