There is a sizeable gap in both culture and knowledge base between the scientists developing precision agriculture technologies and the farmers using them.
These groups must work together to feed a hungry and growing population, especially given water concerns and climate change. “We need to take advantage of any technology that can help meet these needs,” says Ali Fares, co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Conference.
Conference co-chair Ali Fares (right) passes the microphone to Vinayak P. Mohanty, Texas A&M University Regents Professor and CoALS Chair in Hydrological Engineering and Sciences, during the morning session Q&A. . (Photo by Shelley E. Huguely)
Texas A&M's recent Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Natural Resources conference sought to bridge that gap by merging the two groups. More than 300 attendees heard from technology company and university leaders and producer committees who shared their pressing needs and concerns regarding artificial intelligence.
Seth Murray, another co-chair of the event, said the panel discussion was particularly helpful for students.
“What we heard over and over again from that committee was that they wanted an easy button. AI can certainly help with that,” he said, adding that the researchers He emphasized to the students the importance of hearing directly from farmers, as they do not necessarily understand them. The opposite is also true.
Seth Murray, co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Conference (Photo by Shelley E. Huguley)
Murray understands this dichotomy well. When he's not teaching at College Station University, he operates a farm about 15 minutes from campus. He teaches about new farming techniques and helps organize AI conferences, but it's clear that the tools he uses on his land aren't technologically advanced.
“My tractor is a 1965 John Deere 2510,” Murray said. It's not AI-enabled, but it's like, “Well, this is a workforce. [reparing machinery] until 4 a.m. if something breaks. ”
Will the firmware data be disconnected?
As a corn breeder, Murray said he tries to educate his colleagues about future technologies at annual meetings. He has always struggled with the research he's doing at university because, while it's based on scientific data, it's “quite disconnected from farmers.” Their question is, 'How will this help me next year?' ”
Producer Panel: Ordem, Texas producer Kelly Whatley (right) says, “I wish there was an easy-to-use, easy-to-learn way to say, 'Today's the day to pull the trigger. It's 89 cents. It's 87 cents.' ” said. That will serve us best. What we need on our farm is to increase yields and increase margins. In particular, anything that takes away margins will not be used. Also pictured are producers Todd Straley (Plainview, Texas) (left) and Travis Senter (Kiser, Arkansas). (Photo by Shelly E. Huguely)
Public sector research requires private sector investment to take it from the lab to the farm. This process may take some time. Still, the more than 100 research presentations made at the Texas A&M conference on topics ranging from predictive modeling to drone imaging may not have an immediate impact on American farmers' bottom lines, but some of the Some will be affected in the future. And given the stressors of shrinking profit margins year after year, farmers have an obligation to keep an eye on future innovations, even if they are still somewhat abstract.
Connecting with farmers' needs
The opposite is also true.
Fares says university researchers can get so wrapped up in their own interests that they lose sight of the big picture. The end user, the farmer, must remain at the center of all agricultural research. After all, they are the ones ultimately implementing the tools. And if it doesn't help farmers, it won't accomplish much.
“In my opinion, this conference highlights the relationship between farmers and scientists, and the need for stronger cooperation and communication between all these parties,” Fares says. “We need to hear the voices of farmers. We need to understand what their challenges are.”
Check out this gallery to see who attended this year's conference.
