BOONE COUNTY — The University of Missouri has launched a new center to explore the use of emerging technologies in agriculture. MU announced the Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center in February.
The center was established in partnership with MU Extension, MU's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service. The center's goal is to help farmers become more efficient and sustainable by leveraging technology such as artificial intelligence.
Kent Shannon, co-director of the center, said AI can help farmers make better decisions about how to spend their time and resources. The center is looking at ways to train AI for agricultural applications. This includes identifying weeds, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies in crops.
Shannon said the AI is trained to provide real-time information about crop conditions and help farmers make decisions. Shannon said using materials such as fertilizer more efficiently will reduce costs.
“You give [AI] “Ask a question and you'll get an answer, and we want the same thing from an agricultural perspective,” Shannon said.
Mr Shannon said decisions about how to use resources were becoming increasingly important for farmers. It's also important for Missouri. Almost one-third of the state's economy is related to agriculture.
MU's new report projects Missouri's net farm income will decline 18% in 2024 from its record high in 2022. This is lower than the expected 25.5% decline in U.S. net farm income. Conditions are expected to improve in Missouri, where drought has reduced cattle numbers and increased prices.
In addition to increasing profits, Shannon says AI can also help farmers become more sustainable. Farmers can use his AI to spray pesticides in targeted areas instead of entire fields, reducing chemical usage.
The MU Digital Farm is also part of the centre. Located on MU's South Farm, the facility's purpose is to demonstrate new technologies while serving as a research center.
drone in the field
Technology is not new to agriculture. Drones have been used in agriculture since 2010, said Taylor Moreland, CEO of Agri Spray Drones. Moreland said AgriSpray, located in Booneville, is the largest distributor of agricultural spraying drones in the United States. The company sells Chinese-made DJI drones to a network of about 80 dealers. The company also sells drones directly to farmers in central Missouri.
Agricultural drones are in the early adoption stages, Moreland said. He said drones are becoming more popular in the agricultural sector. Moreland said Agrisplay sold about 100 drones in 2021. That number jumped to around 700 drones in 2023. He hopes to more than double Agree Spray's sales in 2024.
Agricultural drones are large machines. DJI's Agras T40 is the most popular spray drone in the country, Moreland said. It weighs about 200 pounds when fully loaded and can carry about 10 gallons. Drones are primarily used for disinfectants, which are chemicals that kill or contain fungi, Moreland said.
“The demand for fungal spraying on corn is increasing. More and more farmers are asking for it,” Moreland said. “The question is, how tall will the corn be in July? About 10, 12 feet. How do you drive a tractor through it?” [to spray]? Well, you can't do that.? ”
Drones are an alternative to helicopters and planes for spraying pesticides. Moreland said he initially thought the main users of drones would be farmers. Moreland said most of his customers are people starting their own spray businesses.
Moreland said the Agras T40 costs about $30,000, but there are other costs to consider. Moreland said it costs $50,000 to $60,000 to start a spray business.
There are other barriers to using agricultural drones. A Federal Aviation Administration license is required to fly a drone commercially. Moreland said Agrisplay provides licensing support, training and repair services.
Challenge to new technology
Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chin said he is excited about the potential for technology to reduce costs and increase efficiency. But Chin said not all family farms are in a hurry to adopt new technology.
“Some farms were early adopters of this technology, and we're from the Show Me State, so some farmers are saying, 'Show me the data,'” Chin said. “We want to look at the data and see if it actually works before we make a big investment.”
Some families rely on younger generations to explore new technology before using it. Another important factor is internet access, Chin said. For farmers to use drones and AI, they need internet access in the field. Chin said some farmers still have difficulty using their devices' GPS because of poor internet connectivity.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development has an Office of Broadband Development that seeks to expand internet access in the state. According to a previous KOMU 8 report, the department is committing more than $1 billion to expand broadband. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri currently ranks 42nd in the nation for broadband access.
Shannon cautioned that the research center is still in its early stages. He hopes the research will be used not only in Missouri but across the country.
“Technology isn't going to solve every problem we have, but if it can help us do our jobs more efficiently, I think that's kind of the ultimate thing. ”