Artificial intelligence and agriculture: AI in Kansas Ag Conference sparks curiosity and conversation
The AI in Kansas Ag Conference convened experts in agriculture from every aspect of the supply chain to explore how artificial intelligence is influencing the way farmers grow food and manage their land.
Kansas agriculture and technology experts had the opportunity to explore the integration of artificial intelligence, or AI, in agriculture at Kansas State University's AI in Kansas Ag Conference.
Hosted by the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics and K-State Extension's Frontier District, the AI in Kansas Ag Conference in Lyndon convened experts in agriculture from every aspect of the supply chain to explore how artificial intelligence is influencing the way farmers grow food and manage their land.
Among the 200 attendees were graduate students, industry tech leaders, university researchers, veteran producers, state lawmakers and early-career farmers. Some said they already had drones and sensors for their operations, while others came with questions and curiosity, hoping to better understand what AI could do for them.
Perspectives from producers and professors shed light on new technologies in agriculture
Ron Ohlde, a longtime producer who has been running his family operation in Palmer since 1972, encouraged fellow farmers interested in adopting new technologies to boldly ask questions and examine how AI fits their lifestyle and business strategy.
"How do you and your family make these kinds of decisions for your farm when it comes to technology? Well, you take a look at it and get as much information as you can," Ohlde said. "You ask how it would fit or benefit the operation or the task you're doing. I want to see it work and see it do the task it's supposed to do. And then I want to know the cost."
By bringing experienced producers, researchers and industry leaders together, the conference built on the strength of K-State's land-grant mission with a next-gen approach: connecting Kansas communities with research-based knowledge right where they live.
Many of the panelists reflected K-State's commitment to research, teaching and engagement because of their work in multiple roles. Jaymelynn Farney, associate professor and extension specialist in animal sciences and industry at K-State, also raises her own livestock. She said that her dual perspective on virtual fencing technologies allows her to provide grounded, practical and accessible knowledge to Kansas farmers.
"The main appeal of this work and these technologies is the flexibility," Farney said. "I know producers and ranchers who are just getting started fresh out of college, but we also have older guys who call me and want to know how this can work in their operation. There are a lot of companies and options out there, so we want to help them figure out the specifics that work for them and help them find efficient solutions."
Presenters at the AI in Kansas Ag Conference shared expertise, tech demonstrations
The conference was structured around panels of experts that addressed several subjects, including emerging technologies, economics and farmer perceptions.
As Jacqueline Aenlle, assistant professor of agricultural and natural resources communications, noted during a panel on trust and ethics in artificial intelligence, perception plays a huge role in a producer's willingness to adopt AI. She said that building user confidence with AI tools and programs comes back to trial and error, as well as the quality of data that you feed into it.
"When it comes to AI systems, I trust them after they prove themselves to me," Aenlle said. "I think asking if one should trust AI doesn't yield a binary answer; it's more like having a new employee or raising a kid to be independent. You trust them after you consistently see them doing the job. The types of questions you ask and the information you give to it also matter."
While panelists provided an overview of the farmer's experience and current research, industry leaders and precision agriculture experts gave participants a closer view of available technologies. Attendees were able to get up close to aerial spray drones. These machines, capable of covering acres with high precision, offered a look into how aerial tools can reduce inputs, save time and provide valuable data to producers.
Nearby, a robot from Greenfield Robotics, designed with interchangeable attachments that can trim weeds or spray between crop rows, gave attendees a chance to explore the potential of ground-based autonomous field tools. Tools like these can save farmers hours of time and effort by passing along the time-consuming job of trimming low-canopy weeds to a robot that won't mind working in the summer heat.
Growing discussions about AI in agriculture
Though the equipment remained stationary, the discussions were anything but. Deepak Joshi, assistant professor and extension specialist in precision agriculture, said that attendees were especially curious about the real-world use of drones on their farms and ranches, and that several producers asked detailed questions about regulatory requirements, battery life, anti-collision features, payload capacity, total cost and return on investment.
"One particularly interesting question came from a producer who asked about the effectiveness of spray drones compared to other aerial application methods," said Joshi. "It was clear that their interest wasn't just theoretical; many were seriously considering how to incorporate this technology into their crop and pasture management practices."
Organizers said that the conference helped participants redefine AI from an abstract buzzword to a practical set of tools, and it reaffirmed that Kansas agriculture is evolving in thoughtful, intentional ways. Many said in discussions that they can see the value in using data more strategically and that AI could help them streamline production to improve their quality of life. One attendee noted that the landscape for precision agriculture and AI is rapidly changing and becoming more mainstream and accessible for farming operations.
Moving the conversation of implementing AI from the theoretical to the practical is a key part of empowering producers. When farmers realize that these technologies are available and able to be used now, they're more likely to try new things, improve the quality of their operations and share what they learn with others.
"This conference made it clear to me that we're not just talking about the future of AI in agriculture, we're actively building it right here in Kansas," said Brian McCornack, co-director of the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, or ID3A, and department head of entomology. "Seeing producers, researchers and tech developers on the same stage, grappling with real challenges and co-creating solutions, was the moment I knew this event was a success. I am confident that ID3A is ready to help keep this conversation going."