Part 1: From Data to Decisions: How AI is Changing Agriculture
By Gunnar Bodvarsson
When the first issue of the Old Farmer’s Almanac hit the press in 1972, it was revolutionary. Packed with weather forecasts, planting schedules, astronomical tables, and stories, it became an indispensable resource for generations of growers. It remains in circulation today, serving as a testament to the transformative power of the right kind of innovation.
Agriculture has always been shaped by technological leaps, from mechanization and irrigation to GPS-guided equipment and biotechnology. Today, we stand at the cusp of another turning point: artificial intelligence(AI).
It isn’t just a buzzword; it’s quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools available to farmers, agronomists, and ag businesses. Whether you realize it or not, you’re probably already using AI in your daily life. Now, it’s time to use it to optimize your operation.
What AI Means for You Right Now
Modern farms generate more data than ever—soil samples, yield maps, drone imagery, sensor readings, and more. The challenge is turning all that data into actionable insights. That’s where AI shines. It has unmatched power to interpret and analyze large amounts of data, producing conclusions and insights in a relatively short time. There are a few other uses for AI beyond data analysis:
- Data analysis at scale. AI can process millions of data points and highlight patterns or anomalies in minutes, helping you understand whether what you’re seeing is part of a larger trend or a one-off outlier.
- Scenario planning. Wondering how to diversify revenue, tackle a new pest, or optimize nutrient inputs? AI tools can rapidly brainstorm options and compile strategies for you to consider.
- Research at your fingertips. AI is as powerful an encyclopedic repository as there is, and it excels at accomplishing research tasks, both big and small, saving hours of searching and consolidating reliable answers.
- Fresh perspective. Because we’re so close to our operations, we sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture or miss opportunities to improve things. AI helps take a system- or macro-level look at things and offers creative suggestions on how to streamline, consolidate, and otherwise optimize efficiencies.
Getting Started Without the Headache
Despite its potential, most farmers still aren’t actively using AI. Adoption is slower in agriculture, often because producers are pressed for time, less comfortable with new technologies, or simply unsure where to begin.
That’s where EarthOptics comes in.
We’ve been applying AI to soil measurement and agronomic analytics since the beginning, helping growers, seed dealers, agronomists, and sustainability leaders make data-driven decisions with confidence. Our mission is to make AI accessible and practical—removing barriers to entry and guiding you through both the technical and ethical questions around its use.
Whether it’s powering our TruNutrientTM fertility maps, identifying pests and pathogens with TruBioTM, or summarizing complex soil datasets in our dashboard with an AI-driven assistant, we’re bringing the promise of AI directly to the field.
The Future is Already Here
AI isn’t something to fear—it’s a tool to harness. Like the Almanac of 1792, it offers farmers a new perspective and approach to managing their world. The difference is that AI updates in real-time, tailored to your specific farm, soil, and decisions.
The future of agriculture will be shaped by those who effectively utilize their data. With AI, that future is already within reach.