K-State’s AI in Kansas Ag Conference inspires farmers to incorporate innovative changes into traditional practices.
Farming has been around since the beginning of time. From the Native Americans to the Egyptians, humans have relied on the sowing and harvesting of plants for much of our food supply. Unlike farming, artificial intelligence (AI) is brand new.
At K-State’s AI in Kansas Ag Conference, agriculture experts from every aspect of the supply chain convened to discuss how AI can influence farming. Early-career farmers, state lawmakers, graduate students, tech leaders, researchers and veteran producers all attended to gain insight into the combination of ag and AI.
Because farmers have so much to juggle and timing is so important to their crops, they are often reluctant to turn away from the traditional, proven methods.
But what if more efficient, dependable AI-driven strategies are available?
“When it comes to AI systems, I trust them after they prove themselves to me,” says Jacqueline Aenlle, assistant professor of agricultural and natural resources communications. “I think asking if one should trust AI doesn’t yield a binary answer; it’s more like having a new employee or raising a kid to be independent. You trust them after you consistently see them doing the job. The types of questions you ask and the information you give to AI also matter.”
At the conference, panelists showed an overview of farmers’ experiences and current research while industry experts showed attendees a closer view of the latest technologies.
New aerial spray drones save time by covering acres with high precision while transferring valuable data to producers, and Greenfield robots come with multiple attachments that can trim weeds or spray between crop rows without being bothered by summer heat.
Many attendees were fascinated by these new advancements and asked detailed questions about each technology. Overall, this conference showed that farmers are open to change, especially when the technologies are available and ready to be used.
“This conference made it clear to me that we’re not just talking about the future of AI in agriculture, we’re actively building it right here in Kansas,” said Brian McCornack, co-director of the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, or ID3A, and department head of entomology. “Seeing producers, researchers and tech developers on the same stage, grappling with real challenges and co-creating solutions, was the moment I knew this event was a success. I am confident that ID3A is ready to help keep this conversation going.”
Though farming has been around for ages, it hasn’t stayed the same. The farmers of today are excited to use the innovation, sustainability and science of AI to shape the future of agriculture.
Curated from: Artificial intelligence and agriculture: AI in Kansas Ag Conference sparks curiosity