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AI is improving bottom lines, agronomic decisions

Artificial intelligence is assisting farmers by providing precise agronomic information to help farmers maximize return on investment.

Michigan farmer Ryan Brink tells Brownfield AI technology has provided early detection and enhanced scouting capabilities, which helps boost yields, “It’s an insurance policy. We can either save money or help build a crop and push beyond 280- or 300-bushel corn.  

Valley and Prospera launched the 2023 AgTech Tour, which showcases state-of-the-art Plant Insight’s technology, which Brink says is a game-changer. “It picks up on rootworm beetle. It’s picking up on cutworm.  It may pick up on a nitrogen efficiently issue on another part of the field.  It’s giving you pin point accuracy placement.” 

Robert Archambault, a Wisconsin-based Valley Irrigation dealer, says one example like Plant Insights uses cameras mounted on a pivot to monitor plant health, “It’s taken thousands of images, which are ran through an artificial intelligence algorithms.   It then sends a grower a report of emergence, canopy cover, nutrient deficiencies, pests, and weeds.”

Prospera President Daniel Koppel says technology have an immediate impact on the bottom line to increase demand, “It’s not enough to just say here’s the future and in 5 or 10 years this is going to be amazing.”  

Koppel says farmers may express concerns about the cost of technology, but if it’s built to optimize efficiency then it may not be a significant factor.

Brownfield’s Kellan Heavican spoke with Brink, Archambault, and Koppel at Valley and Prospera’s Ag Tech Tour in Omaha, Nebraska