23 Follow us on Twitter: @PrairieFarming Better Farming | May/June 2024 these sources of data need to be seamlessly connected to support a decision. The real question is, will any of them replace your trusted advisor? To make this a reality, we need to examine where we are today and look at the gaps in connected data. To start, the foundational piece is that businesses have customers. They have farms that have fields that need a georeferenced boundary. Without this fundamental piece, nothing gets connected. How many farms – with all of their fields with georeferenced boundaries – are sitting in one database connected to the cloud? Next is a background map of soil type and topography that can be linked to a field boundary seamlessly. After that is the recording of the following field activities: Tillage; fertility; applications of inputs with dates; rates; products and method (banded, broadcasted incorporated and to what depth); hybrid varieties; plant population dropped; plants emerged; growth models tracking crop growth stage; and observational data from possibly drones, satellites, sensors and manual entry, all linked to a specific field boundary. Having sophisticated AI interactions will take massive amounts of connected data collected in near real time from equipment and sensors feeding automatically into georeferenced databases. Where are we today and where are the gaps? Surprisingly, a lot of the connectivity is possible to build the field foundation information. Sensors on equipment are collecting data and can be fed into software systems. It’s possible to collect all field activities digitally if investments in technology on-farm have been made. Some of the softer skills may need more work. My colleagues in the United States who are working on data collection offered some interesting insights: The most popular hybrid planted in a certain county was either “1” or “A” – the first entry on a pick list that did not have the hybrids pre-entered. Sometimes the simplest things can limit the usefulness of the data. To have effective AI, it will take more than one connected database. A lot of different data sources need to be connected. Data privacy, ownership and the liability of the output will need a thorough discussion. In the spirit of AI, I asked ChatGPT the following question: What can a farmer do to prepare their farm for AI? Response from ChatGPT: Integrating AI into farming operations can enhance efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. Here are several steps a farmer can take to prepare their farm for AI: 1. Understand AI applications in agriculture Educate yourself about the various AI applications in agriculture, such as precision farming, crop monitoring, FILTRATION YOU CAN TRUST. WIX® heavy-duty filters are built to withstand the rigorous demands of the ag industry. By extending service intervals and reducing downtime, the right filters can increase your production and yield. WIX filters are tested and trusted—even in the harshest conditions. WIX-003083-04_2024 Trade Media HD_Agriculture_V4.indd 1 4/10/24 3:33 PM Ready for AI?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3