California Ag Network

Tag: Precision Agriculture

  • USDA Invests up to $310 Million in Partnership Projects

    The USDA announced that it is investing up to $310 million to expand producer conservation activities across the nation through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting RCPP project proposals now through Aug. 24 to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners boost their operations and conserve natural resources.

    “This significant investment through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program will further enable us to leverage our partnerships as force multipliers in supporting America’s farmers,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “We’re looking forward to seeing the results on the ground while we also work to keep working lands in working hands.”

    The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is delivering the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades, including support for RCPP. It will deliver $425 million in fiscal year 2026 and an increase to $450 million from fiscal year 2027 through fiscal year 2031.   

    RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.

    In the past year, NRCS has improved RCPP by streamlining partnership agreement processes and increasing flexibilities to ensure the program works more effectively for conservation partners and America’s farmers and ranchers. Now, 75% of the funding goes directly to the American farmer or is used to cover the cost of conservation practice implementation.

    About the Program

    There are two separate funding opportunities:   

    • RCPP Classic: Projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities in collaboration with project partners.   
    • RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA): The lead partner works directly with agricultural producers to support the development of innovative conservation approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.

    NRCS ranks proposals based on how they address the following priorities:

    • Addressing soil health, water quality or wildlife habitat with an aim to improve land health, enhance resource management and promote sustainable agriculture and long-term protection of agricultural, grassland, and forestland viability.
    • Soil health projects using practices that focus on minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing soil cover, increasing natural vitality and maintaining living roots throughout the year.
    • Leveraging precision agriculture technologies to target conservation efforts based on specific field conditions, potentially reducing costs and improving resource efficiency.
    • Focusing on Farmers First projects, especially those that provide technical and financial assistance via contributions for planning and practice designs to support producer contracts.
    • Supporting projects led by Indian tribes.

    More Information

    The $310 million is available for both RCPP Classic and AFA projects, including $30 million set aside for projects with Indian tribes.

    Details about RCPP Classic

    and RCPP AFAs

    are available on Grants.gov.  Project proposals for RCPP are being accepted through Aug. 24 on the RCPP portal

    . For more information about RCPP, visit the RCPP website.

    This investment builds on other recent NRCS investments to engage partners to extend the reach of conservation. In late May, NRCS announced its plans to invest $65 million through Conservation Innovation Grants. 

    For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

  • AI in Ag Market Projected Value at $1763M by 2031

    The Global AI In Agriculture Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.52% from 2024 to 2031, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research®. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 851.63 Million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1762.78 Million by the end of the forecast period.

    Revolutionizing Agriculture: Professional Market Research Report Unveils the Power of AI in Agriculture

    In response to the global imperative for innovative, sustainable farming practices, the agricultural sector is witnessing a groundbreaking transformation through the integration of cutting-edge technologies. A recently released Professional Market Research Report sheds light on this paradigm shift, emphasizing the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in redefining agricultural landscapes worldwide.

    The report highlights the unprecedented integration of AI technologies not only in agricultural products but also in in-field farming techniques. Escalating global population combined with diminishing land resources necessitates inventive approaches to farming. In this context, AI emerges as a game-changer, enhancing crop quality, managing pests, monitoring environmental conditions, and optimizing farming operations.

    Key Market Drivers:
    The exponential demand for food production, driven by the rising global population, stands as a key driver propelling the growth of the AI in Agriculture Market. The challenge of scarce land resources and the imperative need for increased food production have led the agricultural sector to embrace AI technologies. AI presents multifaceted advantages, addressing the shortage of workforce and thereby amplifying the demand for AI applications in agriculture. Technological advancements have facilitated the development of diverse AI applications in agriculture, spanning areas such as weather forecasting, pest analysis, weed detection, and precision farming practices. These advancements significantly contribute to optimizing agricultural processes and output, driving the growth of the AI in Agriculture Market.

    Challenges and Opportunities:
    Despite its immense potential, challenges such as limited awareness, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries, have hindered the widespread adoption of AI in agriculture. Moreover, a lack of knowledge about AI-enabled devices acts as a barrier to market growth. However, ongoing investments in Research and Development (R&D) by tech giants and startups, coupled with the development of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices tailored for AI applications in agriculture, offer promising opportunities. These initiatives, combined with increasing awareness among farmers, are expected to fuel significant growth in the AI in Agriculture Market over the forecast period.

    Regional Dominance:
    Throughout the forecast period, North America is anticipated to lead the global AI in Agriculture Market. This dominance is attributed to the early adoption of AI technology and crop management techniques by large-scale agricultural players in the region. Factors such as the population’s enhanced purchasing power, escalating automation, substantial investments in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and governmental focus on domestic AI equipment production collectively contribute to North America’s strong market position.

    Key Industry Players:
    Prominent organizations such as Agribotix, Bayer CropScience AG, Case IH Agriculture, ClearAg Operations, Deere & Company, Farmers Edge Inc., Granular AG, Grownetics Inc., IBM, Mapshots Inc., and SST Software play pivotal roles in the global AI in Agriculture Market. These industry leaders are driving innovation and shaping the landscape of AI applications in agriculture, ensuring sustainable farming practices for a better future.

    The AI in Agriculture Market is experiencing robust growth, powered by technological advancements and the urgent need for sustainable farming practices. Despite challenges, ongoing investments, technological innovations, and increasing awareness are paving the way for a transformative future in agriculture. AI stands at the forefront, ensuring food security and agricultural sustainability on a global scale.

    To get market data, market insights, financial statements and a comprehensive analysis of the Global AI In Agriculture Market, please Contact Verified Market Research®.

    Based on the research, Verified Market Research® has segmented the global AI In Agriculture Market into Technology, Offering, Application, And Geography.

    • AI In Agriculture Market, by Technology
      • Machine Learning
      • Computer Vision
      • Predictive Analytics
    • AI In Agriculture Market, by Offering
      • Hardware
      • Software
      • Service
    • AI In Agriculture Market, by Application
      • Precision Farming
      • Yield Monitoring
      • Field Mapping
      • Crop Scouting
      • Weather Tracking and Forecasting
      • Irrigation Management
      • Livestock Monitoring
      • Drone Analytics
      • Agriculture Robots
      • Others
    • AI In Agriculture Market, by Geography
      • North America
        • U.S
        • Canada
        • Mexico
      • Europe
        • Germany
        • France
        • U.K
        • Rest of Europe
      • Asia Pacific
        • China
        • Japan
        • India
        • Rest of Asia Pacific
      • ROW
        • Middle East & Africa
        • Latin America

  • California Plant & Soil Conference to Convene in Visalia this February

    The California Plant and Soil Conference will be held on February 3-4 at the Visalia Convention Center 303 E. Acequia, Visalia, CA 93291

    The conference is organized by the California Chapter of the American Society of Agronomy (CA ASA). Registration is now open through the conference website (https://na.eventscloud.com/plantandsoilconference).

    The annual conference provides an opportunity for students, professionals, and other attendees to increase their knowledge of current topics of agronomic importance in California. Many Certified Crop Advisers and Pest Control Advisers attend the conference to earn continuing education units that are important to their professional standing.

    This year’s conference will convene sessions covering the following topics:

    ·       The State of California Agriculture in 2026 and Beyond

    ·       Precision Ag

    ·       Integrated Pest Management

    ·       Robotics

    ·       Nutrient Management

    ·       Technology for Irrigation Management

    ·       Tools for Soil Health and Regenerative Ag

    ·       Circular Economies

    ·       Frontiers in Genetic Engineering

    ·       Crop Diversification

    ·       Groundwater Quantity and Quality for Agriculture

    In addition to presentations on these topics, there will be an award ceremony to honor individuals who served the profession through their careers, a student poster competition, non-competitive professional posters, a student mentoring breakfast, and the CA ASA business meeting. Sponsorship opportunities are available to support student participation; please see the conference website for more information (https://na.eventscloud.com/website/58588/sponsors/). Early bird registration is available through January 10th.

    The conference is planned and presented by a team of volunteer professional agronomists from research institutions, cooperative extension, public agencies, and private companies. If you are interested in serving on the board, or have questions about the conference, please contact a current board member (https://na.eventscloud.com/website/58588/leadership/).

    The CA ASA organization was founded in April 1971 by a group of California agronomists who recognized the value in creating a forum to focus on California agriculture. The purpose of the annual meeting is to promote research, disseminate scientific information, foster high standards of educational and ethical conduct in the profession, and facilitate robust cooperation among organizations with similar missions.

  • AI Tool to Help Farmers Measure Real-Time Crop Health from the Field

    Leaf Monitor, a new mobile tool backed by artificial intelligence and predictive modeling, could revolutionize how farmers monitor crops and make decisions by providing real-time nutrition and leaf trait information in the field.

    “Having this information is very valuable for the farmers,” said Alireza Pourreza, associate professor of Cooperative Extension and director of the Digital Agriculture Laboratory in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis. “In five seconds, they can have a sense of how much nutrition they have in a leaf.”

    Development of the AI model was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s HiRes Vineyard Nutrition multistate project and its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as well as the California Table Grape Commission.

    Maha Afifi, director of viticulture research at the California Table Grape Commission, said the tool could be a game changer for the table grape industry if it leads to faster decision-making about fertilizer use. The right amount typically leads to healthier vines that produce more grapes with optimal size, weight and color.

    “The evaluation of vine nutrient status is one of our top priorities,” Afifi said. “At the same time, exploring new technology tools like this project is a high priority for us because they will be important to the future of the table grape industry.”

    Field testing

    The Leaf Monitor tool uses a handheld spectrometer to measure leaf reflectance beyond the range of light visible to the human eye.

    Once a leaf is scanned, its spectral data is uploaded to a cloud-based machine learning system designed to predict leaf traits and nutrient content. This algorithm was developed and trained by the Digital Agriculture Laboratory over five years using a dataset of thousands of leaf samples collected from California’s specialty crops, primarily grapevines and almonds. The samples were chemically analyzed to determine nutrient levels and structural leaf traits, providing the data needed to build an accurate prediction model.

    “Nutrient deficiencies in plants often go unnoticed until late in the season, by which point the damage is already irreversible,” said graduate student Parastoo Farajpoor, who is running the project. “This is why early detection is essential. Spectrometry provides a rapid and reliable way to identify these deficiencies before visible symptoms appear.”

    After a recent demonstration, Bulleseye Farms Irrigation Manager Geoff Klein said the tool could help save money and improve yields. Bullseye grows walnuts, pistachios, tomatoes, corn, wheat, rice and sunflowers in Yolo and Solano counties.

    Tailored crop management

    Currently, farmers typically take leaf samples, dry them, grind them up and send the samples off to a lab for testing, which can take up to two weeks to return results. Bullseye samples leaf tissues about three times a year.

    “Right now, it doesn’t really make sense to go out and take tissues in every single corner just because it’s expensive,” Klein said. “It’d be really cool if I could just walk out there and test a couple of different places.”

    The Leaf Monitor tool helps farmers tailor management decisions to specific areas rather than an entire field. Calibrating fertilizer use to real-time data can prevent overuse and nitrogen runoff, a financial and environmental challenge that many growers face.

    “I feel like there’s a lot of times we do need to put less [fertilizer] on, where we end up putting more, because that’s what the nitrogen removal formula says,” Klein said. “But with this app we can use less because we know the actual conditions at the time. I think it opens a lot of doors in terms of getting data back in real time and also utilizing the level of control we have with the data.”

    The app can also aggregate the scans and map out spatial patterns over a large area.

    “What we know is every field has variability that is not necessarily visible to the farmer’s eye,” Pourreza said.

    The prototype Leaf Monitor tool is free and included in a set of tools that can be downloaded on the Digital Agriculture Laboratory website. A web-based version of the tool will follow while the team continues to feed new data into the algorithm to refine the predictions. On average, it achieves about 65% accuracy across all traits, with predictions for certain nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, performing better than the overall average. Users will need to pair it with a spectrometer.

    “We need to produce more food while using less resources so we need to have some kind of monitoring system to give us precise and accurate feedback on our management practice,” Pourreza said. “This technology is growing very fast.” — By Emily Dooley, UC Davis

  • Registration Opens for 2026 Farm Robotics Challenge

    The Farm Robotics Challenge, the only collegiate agricultural robotics competition of its kind, is officially launching its 2026 season. Registration is now open for undergraduate and graduate student teams from two-year and four-year colleges and universities across the United States and worldwide.

    The competition tasks students with designing, prototyping and field-testing robotics and AI-driven solutions to tackle real challenges facing modern agriculture. The Challenge is organized by UC ANR Innovate, the innovation arm of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS).

    “What makes the Farm Robotics Challenge unique is that students work directly with farmers to identify and solve real problems,” said Gabe Youtsey, chief innovation officer at UC ANR and founder of UC ANR Innovate. “Teams are developing practical solutions growers can put to work, and the hands-on experience prototyping and field-testing prepares students for careers in agricultural technology, while helping address some of the pressing challenges our growers face today.”

    Lead sponsor the Reservoir to award Grand Prize investment

    The Challenge is pleased to announce a partnership with the Reservoir, a leading early-stage venture capital investor and robotics incubator dedicated to accelerating real-world agricultural technology. The Reservoir joins this year as a lead sponsor, bringing with it a commitment to help student innovations leap from concept to commercialization.

    As part of this partnership, the Reservoir will award a $50,000 Grand Prize investment to the winning team. This seed funding goes beyond a traditional competition prize, as it provides a powerful springboard for turning student-built prototypes into market-ready solutions with real agricultural impact.

    “The future of agriculture will be shaped by deep tech innovators who can move quickly from lab to field,” said Danny Bernstein, CEO of the Reservoir. “The Farm Robotics Challenge brings together the kind of early-stage talent we’re eager to back – engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs with the vision to tackle real problems and the grit to commercialize their solutions. By pairing this year’s $50,000 Grand Prize investment with our on-farm incubation and venture support, we aim to help these prototypes evolve into scalable companies delivering breakthrough technologies for growers.”

    Central to the competition is the expectation that student teams work directly with growers to identify prominent issues in agriculture that could be addressed using advanced robotics, AI and automation.

    “With this challenge, teams can target a broad range of agricultural activities, such as planting, weeding, harvesting, pest management and crop monitoring, as well as focused projects in data collection, mapping and on-farm automation,” said Steve Brown, associate director of the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems.

    Teams are encouraged to design and prototype solutions, using robotic platforms equipped with autonomous navigation systems, intelligent algorithms and custom attachments to address real-world agricultural problems. These projects are field-tested, ensuring that they are not only theoretically sound but also practically viable in production agriculture environments.

    Supported by leading technology partners such as Bonsai Robotics, the competition places strong emphasis on innovation, hands-on learning and collaboration with growers.

    “For the past four years, we’ve partnered with UC ANR Innovate and AIFS on the Farm Robotics Challenge because we believe the future of farming depends on the next generation of innovators. There are big problems to solve in how we grow our food, and we want these inventive, engineering minds focused on them,” said Brendan Dowdle, chief business officer at Bonsai Robotics. “Our robotics platform makes it easier to design, test and deploy AI, computer vision and autonomous systems. Every year, we’re inspired by the creativity and technical skill these students bring to the field, and the ideas just keep getting bigger. We can’t wait to see what they build next.”

    Prizes offered as part of multi-phase competition cycle

    The competition unfolds across several stages, beginning with the registration period starting in August, followed by a team formation and proposal research phase through October. Project proposals must be submitted by October 30, 2025.

    Teams then embark on a six-month development and testing phase, culminating in final project submissions due on May 3, 2026.

    The competition concludes with an awards ceremony set for May 20, 2026.

    Participation in the Farm Robotics Challenge offers numerous benefits. The competition will award over $100,000 in prizes across multiple categories, and select teams will be offered travel stipends to showcase their projects at FIRA USA, North America’s leading ag tech conference. Beyond the prizes, all participants gain access to a network of academic and industry professionals dedicated to building the future of farming.

    Throughout the competition, educational webinars will be available to help students stay informed about industry trends, develop entrepreneurial skills and gain valuable insights on topics such as intellectual property, company formation and venture capital financing, presented by experts from Morrison Foerster.

    “We are excited to partner with UC ANR Innovate and AIFS on the Farm Robotics Challenge,” said Michael Ward, co-head of the Morrison Foerster Food and Ag Practice. “To ensure that teams get their industry-changing ideas off the ground, it is critical that they have a solid understanding of the legal issues that arise when launching and growing a startup company in this field.”

    The webinars will feature interactive sessions designed to introduce teams to the legal knowledge needed to start and grow a business, protect their innovations and navigate the challenging regulatory landscape.

    “We will offer free confidential office hours to all competition participants to answer legal questions and provide guidance on moving their ideas into a company and taking steps to commercialization,” said Mitchell Presser, co-head of the Morrison Foerster Food and Ag Practice.

    Throughout the competition, student teams develop practical skills at the intersection of technology and agriculture, expand their professional networks and engage with a distinguished panel of evaluators and innovators.

    Past competitions have featured over 40 teams from across the U.S. and abroad, with previous winners including UC Davis, University of Georgia, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Olin College of Engineering (click to view past results).

    For those interested in participating, prospective teams are advised to assemble members with a range of technical expertise and secure a faculty or staff advisor. The next step is to partner with a grower to identify a meaningful agricultural problem and then design and rigorously test a solution using advanced robotics and AI.

    Comprehensive information, official rules and regular updates can be found on the Farm Robotics Challenge website. You can also register to participate in the Farm Robotics Challenge Info Session Webinar on September 10 at 4 p.m. (PDT).

    New for the 2025-26 academic year is the Farm Robotics Academy, intended for secondary school students. The Academy aims to equip both educators and students with knowledge and skills in leading-edge technologies that are reshaping the agricultural landscape. Learn more at https://www.farmroboticsacademy.ai/.

    Farm Robotics Challenge

    The Farm Robotics Challenge is organized by UC ANR Innovate and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, with lead support from the Reservoir, technology partner Bonsai Robotics, as well as Western Growers, Morrison Foerster, F3 Innovate, Taylor Farms, Beck’s Hybrids, Google.org, the California Tomato Research Institute, Linak U.S., and Plug and Play. The competition challenges college-level teams to identify and solve real-world agricultural problems using advanced robotics technology.

    For more information about the Farm Robotics Challenge, including details on how to participate or sponsor, visit https://farmroboticschallenge.ai.

    UC ANR Innovate

    UC ANR Innovate brings together people, resources and ideas to accelerate agricultural, food and biotech innovation in California. UC ANR Innovate develops practical technologies, generates research and policy insights, prepares a future-ready workforce and builds the ecosystems and partnerships that make innovation possible: locally, regionally and globally.

    The AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems

    The AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) is a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture-funded research institute leveraging artificial intelligence to solve the world’s biggest challenges to crop and food production: ensuring a sustainable, nutritious, efficient and safe food supply while mitigating the impacts of changing conditions. For more information, visit https://aifs.ucdavis.edu.

    The Reservoir

    The Reservoir is a startup incubator and venture capital fund focused on helping ag tech startups succeed where agriculture happens – in the field. Reservoir Farms is the world’s first on-farm robotics incubator, starting in the Salinas Valley and expanding to other key regions like the Central Valley. Reservoir Ventures backs startups solving real problems in high-value crops. By combining R&D space, hands-on grower input and early-stage capital, the Reservoir helps turn promising ideas into tools for the growers who feed the world. Learn more at https://reservoir.co.

    Bonsai Robotics

    Bonsai Robotics is reimagining the agricultural industry with its AI-first platform that makes autonomous farming affordable, easy to use, and deployable across all farm equipment – whether retrofitted onto existing machines or built into next generation solutions. Its acquisition of farm-ng in 2025 combines its leading, vision-based autonomy software with modular, electric robotics to deliver next-generation machines adaptable for a wide range of crops, tasks and environments. Bonsai empowers growers to monitor and manage all farm equipment – new or legacy, autonomous or not – through a single, intuitive app. Learn more at www.bonsairobotics.ai.

    Morrison Foerster

    Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm, with clients including some of the most innovative companies – from trailblazing startups to Fortune 100 enterprises. Morrison Foerster is the firm for Food + Agriculture, representing stakeholders across the value chain, from scientists in labs optimizing plant genetics, to farmers nurturing crops, to ag tech pioneers revolutionizing farm technology, to CPG companies and global brands selling your favorite foods. With unmatched scientific depth and deep sector knowledge, Morrison Foerster has helped shape the sector for over two decades. For more information, visit www.mofo.com.

    UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings UC information and practices to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu.

    To read more UC ANR news, visit our newsroom at ucanr.edu/News.

  • AI can Empower Agriculture Retailers, Farm Supply Cooperatives

    New artificial intelligence technology is enabling agricultural retailers and farm supply cooperatives to optimize their operational performance while strengthening all-important customer relationships. In addition to broad-based AI platforms that can be leveraged to simplify everyday business operations, farm suppliers now have access to AI apps specifically designed to support field agronomy and crop production.

    According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, AI technology offers ag retailers a new set of tools to optimize workflows, inventory management, employee performance and other key business functions. Farm supply businesses that rise to the challenge of adopting AI can also enhance their position as trusted advisors and essential partners in the ag supply chain.

    “AI in agriculture can be utilized in a company’s back office, front office as well as within agronomy and supply chain operations divisions,” said Jacqui Fatka, farm supply and biofuels economist with CoBank. “Early adoption and reliable partnerships will provide an advantage for those willing to test the AI landscape. Ag retailers should research companies and pick AI partners who understand agriculture and promise value beyond just lofty ROIs.”

    Agricultural cooperatives and retailers serve as a critical relationship bridge between farmers and input providers. The potential erosion of those relationships due to alternative distribution models, disruptive technologies or other competing forces is one of the biggest challenges ag retailers face moving forward. Early adoption of AI can help the ag retailer sector stay ahead of competitors while maintaining and strengthening customer relationships.

    Fatka suggested ag retailers start with easy-to-implement, low-stakes AI applications for things like email and presentation assistance and customer interaction summaries before tackling more complex tasks. “Testing out different pathways to gain internal acceptance can lead to greater long-term success. For instance, an easy initial test might be recording virtual meetings with CoPilot. Within minutes, it can deliver an AI-generated summary of the meeting with key takeaways, immediate action items and future tasks.”

    Ag retailers can also start leveraging AI to optimize workflows for standard business functions like human resources, accounting, operations and sales. Using AI to evaluate and streamline these functions offers a high return on investment relative to the efforts required to build or implement such tools. Fatka stresses, however, that companies should establish guardrails for the use of customer information and understand privacy changes with the use of AI tools.

    While AI is unlikely to eliminate ag retail jobs, it can help simplify tasks and reduce human error or bias. In addition, as labor continues to be a challenge for many rural enterprises, it can provide continuity during labor turnover. AI can also help agronomists and other staff cover more acres or customers. Apps like AgPilot enable agronomists to interact with AI verbally while traveling between customers, allowing them to input crop protection recommendations and smoothly advance potential sales from one stage to another.

    “The stakes are high for agribusinesses operating in an environment where margins are tight,” said Fatka. “However, ag retailers will need to ensure AI costs do not outweigh the benefits. The cost of experimentation is minimal and delaying a trial adoption of these promising tools could result in missed opportunities for growth.”

    Read the research brief, How AI is Empowering Agriculture Retailers.

    About CoBank

    CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 78,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities.