With artificial intelligence on the rise, many are wondering how it can be implemented into farming. We’ve broken down ways to use AI in your farming to make the process less confusing.
Combining AI with precision agriculture allows farmers to use the best soil management, fertilization, irrigation or pesticide management practices.
Irrigation:
For example, AI algorithms allow for automatic crop management. Using sensors to monitor soil moisture levels and weather conditions, AI can determine how much to water crops and when.
It can also help detect leaks or damage to irrigation systems. By using machine learning models, these algorithms can recognize signs of leaks, such as changes in water flow or pressure. This real-time monitoring allows for the earliest possible detection, preventing water waste and crop damage.
By combining this information with weather data, AI models can identify where there is excessive water usage.
Monitoring and Application:
But the uses for AI extend past irrigation. Models can monitor nutrients in the soil and alert farmers when there is too little or too much of something in the soil. AI can then take this data and churn out information about crop yields, health, growth conditions and more.
These same models can detect pests and diseases. AI can scan crop images to detect mold, rot, or other crop health threats, allowing farmers to quickly respond to the problem.
The uses for AI don’t stop there. When it comes to pesticide application, AI-powered drones can map out an area to figure out which crops need more or less pesticide. While still an emerging technology, it is becoming more precise by the day.
Managing Risk:
Outside of direct crop management, AI can forecast and use predictive analytics to reduce the risk of crop failures. This can also be used after a harvest, where algorithms can provide insights on the quality, ripeness and size that might get missed by human eyes.
Breeding Seeds:
In addition, farmers can use AI to collect data on plant growth and single out plants that produce better yields, are more weather-resistant or less prone to disease. This enables for crossbreeding and producing overall better crops.
For more information, contact Farm Credit Mid-America at 800-444-FARM.
This article is intended for informational purposes only.
