With the global population projected to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2022), the agriculture industry worldwide has begun a massive transformation in how crops are grown and managed. Precision agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) are at the forefront of this change. The necessity to incorporate these new technologies to combat food production issues and climate change has become paramount. Reduction of herbicide use through precision spraying and AI aids our farmers and agricultural products by preserving the integrity of our soil health, improving crop health, producing greater yields, and combating farm labor costs and shortages.

Public awareness of these issues has increased, leading to calls for the agricultural sector to develop innovative solutions. Digital agriculture (DA) provides an important opportunity to respond to several of these challenges, and precision agriculture is more front and center than ever before.

Bringing Precision Spraying to a Broader Grower Community

According to the 2023 USDA Study, at least one-half of large row crop farms rely on these precision agriculture technologies, while only 25% of smaller farms use any of the top four technologies, including precision spraying. One of the reasons cited in this study was due to the traditionally large expense in adapting these technologies, combined with the reluctancy of growers integrating new equipment that they are unfamiliar or uncomfortable using.

Farmers often waste herbicides on broadcast sprays because they cannot effectively target weeds, causing the United States alone to spray over 1 billion pounds of pesticides annually. U.S. growers spend approximately $6.6 billion on blanket applications of herbicide chemicals. This inefficiency not only escalates costs but also poses significant environmental and health risks.

Companies like AgTechLogic, based in Mesa, AZ provide more sustainable farming practices with their innovative precision agriculture and AI technologies. By focusing on the creation and deployment of clean, efficient solutions, like WEED-IT, they aim to reduce chemical use by up to 90%. In support of findings, as the USDA Study shares, AgTechLogic realized to make an immediate, deep impact within the industry, they needed to provide a scalable precision solution that can be retrofitted onto almost any type of spray equipment to allow growers to adapt quickly and affordably.

Real-Time Data with AI Powered Agtellio

Earlier this month, AgTechLogic launched their latest technological innovation, called Agtellio, which revolutionizes the way farmers access real-time data to make informed decisions and optimize their farm operations. By integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, Agtellio creates a continuous loop of information that drives future savings, increases crop yield, reduces risks, and produces significant positive environmental and climate impacts. This cutting-edge technology captures real-time data and provides actionable insights, enabling farmers to monitor and adjust their practices with unprecedented precision and efficiency.

Growers Seek to See Savings Quickly – and in Real Time

The Agtellio Spray Command Center is at the heart of this transformation, offering comprehensive data elements such as GPS coordinates, speed, flow rate, and more. These metrics are crucial for accurate reporting and ongoing analysis, allowing farmers to identify patterns, predict outcomes, and refine their strategies. Accessible from almost any device, the Command Center ensures that farmers have immediate access to critical information, no matter where they are. This accessibility empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions on the fly, optimizing their operations for maximum productivity and sustainability. By leveraging this technology, farmers can harness the power of valuable data to enhance their crop management practices, leading to improved yields, reduced input costs, and a healthier environment.

Environmental Benefits of Precision Spraying with AI Integration

• Chemical Reduction: Dramatic and effective reduction in the use of toxic chemicals for weed and grass elimination.
• Emission Reductions: Decreased use of fuels and fossil fuel emissions.
• Water Conservation: Reduction in water usage and the use of AI to identify irrigation issues.
• Precision Application: A significant reduction in over-spraying and herbicide drift.
• Yield impact: Use of computer vision and AI to predict yields and identify potential crop loss.

The Future of Farming

In the US, nearly $35.5 billion is projected to be spent on agriculture weed management by 2025, while AI in agriculture market is expected to grow from $1.7B in 2023 to $4.7B by 2028, CAGR 23.1%. Several factors drive this market growth, including increased global regulations and mandates for chemical reductions, consumer demand for healthier food, the reality of a global food shortage as determined by the United Nations, the need to conserve water supplies and improve water quality, and the demand for climate improvements. As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, precision spray technology and AI integration are set to become the new standard, significantly reducing the environmental and health impacts of traditional pesticide use and paving the way for a more sustainable future and contributes to the well-being of future generations and sustainability.