Welcome back to Brainless Intelligence, this week we will be focusing on the effects of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture. In this blog post specifically, I will be discussing the weather forecast in relation to Agriculture. The agriculture industry is significantly influenced by the weather. Weather forecasts provide farmers with information that can influence business decisions, helping farmers plan efficiently which results in minimizing costs and maximizing yields and profits (Eilts, 2018). Image Source: https://nordicapis.com/6-best-free-and-paid-weather-apis/ (Bush, T. 2019) Weather forecasting has come a long way. Today, we can pinpoint the weather in any specific area. The head of “The Weather Company”, Bill Dow, believes that we will encounter Artificial Intelligence (AI) in weather forecasting in the future. By combining accurate weather data with science and technology, “The Weather Company” aims to provide better weather information which can help support smart decision-making for businesses. Dow has developed a system using AI called “Watson” which informs people of specific weather information tailored to them. “Watson” will learn the needs of every viewer and manipulate their forecast just for them by delivering the exact information the viewer wants while filtering out the unnecessary information. The system will automatically collect information, create a story, and send it to only people who are likely to be impacted (Artificial Intelligence May Be The Future Of Forecasting Weather, 2018). “Watson” could be extremely useful in the agriculture industry because it will learn the needs of farmers and generate insights which will directly influence their decision making. There are four primary decision-making areas in farming that are affected by the weather. Image Source: https://industrywired.com/how-is-ai-being-used-as-an-important-tool-in-weather-forecasting/ (Shivani, 2021) Crop Growth Crop growth requires the optimum amount of moisture, light, and temperature. Farmers who have access to weather data can better understand and track the growing condition of their crops, allowing them to make informed decisions about whether, when, and how much to irrigate (Eilts, 2018). Fertilizer Timing and Delivery Farmers must decide when the proper time to apply fertilizer is, as well as the which fertilizer to use and the rate at which it should be applied. Fertilizer should be applied in the right conditions, when its dry enough so that it won’t wash away but moist enough for it to get worked into the soil. With an inaccurate prediction of upcoming weather, all the farmers profits can be at risk (Eilts, 2018). Pest and Disease Control The formation and multiplication of pests and diseases, which can destroy crops, are aided by certain weather conditions. The weather forecast can determine when it’s appropriate to apply pest or disease controls (Eilts, 2018). Field Workability The ideal days for fieldwork are dependent on weather. Soil moisture and temperature are the most important factors. Accurate weather forecasts can assist farmers in determining the workability of their fields and makes day-to-day activities more efficient (Eilts, 2018). Image Source: https://agfundernews.com/analyzing-2019s-wild-weather-year-could-technology-have-helped (Manning, L. 2019) Through AI, these decisions can be made easier due to farmers being informed of accurate weather information tailored to their lifestyle. “Watson” pushes customization as the new way forward in weather forecasting (Artificial Intelligence May Be The Future Of Forecasting Weather, 2018), it provides farmers with convenience by alerting them with the exact weather information they need to successfully make these decisions which will benefit them profitably. The future of agriculture is subject to many changes as Artificial Intelligence continues to introduce itself into more aspects of our world. Stay tuned for more blog posts releasing this week relating to AI in agriculture.
References CBS Boston (2018) Artificial Intelligence May Be The Future Of Forecasting Weather. 22 May. Available at: https://youtu.be/ckBPL3ajzqY Eilts, M. (2018) The Role of Weather—and Weather Forecasting—in Agriculture. Available at: https://www.dtn.com/the-role-of-weather-and-weather-forecasting-in-agriculture/
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