Will Bentley
Georgia has always been defined by its agricultural roots. As Georgia’s largest industry since the original founding of the state, agriculture has been at the forefront of innovation for over 200 years. Georgia’s rich farming legacy remains an integral part of our economy, but farmers face challenges that make the agricultural landscape look vastly different from past generations.
Today’s farmers in Georgia are forced to adapt to a rapidly changing world. From sustained droughts to damage caused by major hurricanes, growing seasons have become much more unpredictable. Simultaneously, Georgia’s farming population is aging, with the average farmer nearing 60. What may be more alarming is the fact that the average age of a beginning farmer is now pushing 47 years old due to the huge capital requirements to start a farm. This generational shift is further compounded by consistent and severe labor shortages, which have exacerbated labor difficulties and made it clear that farmers do not have the workforce they need to meet the demands of their operations.
While these challenges may seem daunting, history has shown that farmers have always found ways to wield innovation to persevere. From the invention of the steel plow to the tractor and combine harvester, farmers have always found a way to use difficult moments like these to incentivize revolutionary innovations. Today, as we find ourselves in one of those moments, new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are stepping up to help overcome the challenges of the 21st century.
AI is proving to be a game-changer on farms across Georgia, making precision agriculture more efficient and more accessible to farmers. By intelligently harnessing data on soil health, weather patterns, and crop conditions, farmers are getting new data-driven insights to manage resources effectively. These insights are helping them use water and fertilizer more efficiently — reducing waste, lowering costs, and minimizing environmental impact. Meanwhile, over half of all acres in the U.S. of crops like cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, and winter wheat are now being managed with auto-steer and guidance systems, like AI-powered tractors and harvesters, helping to ease the burden of workforce shortages.
What might sound like science fiction is becoming a reality here in Georgia. The Sunbelt Agricultural Expo in Moultrie continues to utilize cutting edge technology in their demonstration farms each year. Several years ago, a bold idea between State Sen. Larry Walker and the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) made Perry home to an experimental farm showcasing cutting-edge farm technology featuring tools like Roomba-style machines that help to collect eggs and self-driving tractors. Through their effort, Georgia’s farmers are getting a taste of how adopting technology can help alleviate many of their concerns.
As AI continues to evolve and we discover more ways to harness its capabilities, we are bound to see countless new ways for farmers to use it to their advantage. This potential should be a guiding light to our elected officials, who are currently exploring AI’s uses and how to regulate it. With its potential to transform agriculture in a positive way, we believe lawmakers should put forward a balanced and pragmatic approach that incentivizes innovation while ensuring responsibility and human safety. Through this balanced approach, we can ensure that AI will continue to evolve to a point that will ensure that Georgia’s rich agricultural heritage not only survives the challenges of our time but continues to thrive for generations to come.
Will Bentley serves as the president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.
