Technology
US agriculture industry tests artificial intelligence: 'A lot of potential'
In the 1930s, there were around 6.8 million farms in the United States. The size averaged at around 155 acres. Over the next several decades, the number of farms rapidly declined to around 1.9 million in 2023. Those farms grew larger, averaging around 464 acres.
As farming has changed over time, experts believe artificial intelligence (AI) can help farmers and producers make food faster and more efficiently.
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“I think there’s a lot of potential for both increasing productivity on the crop side, but also for reducing the amount of resources that we use on the productivity side. There’s the data that we can actually collect to increase yields and improve the nutritional quality. But then there’s also the facilitate facilitating of reductions in labor availability,” said Mason Earles, an assistant professor at UC Davis in the departments of Viticulture & Enology and Biological & Agricultural Engineering and researcher at the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems or AIFS.
In the 1930s, there were around 6.8 million farms in the United States. In 2023, the number of farms declined to around 1.9 million. (AI Institute For Next Generation Food Systems)
The most recent data shows 41% of farmers reported labor shortages in 2018. That’s a 27% increase from those reporting shortages in 2014. The trend is expected to continue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2% decline in workers through 2033 despite the number of job openings remaining the same.
“We do more with less. It’s not that it has no set way and has totally changed the traditional work, it is empowering, and it is increasing the productivity of existing workers,” said Ilias Tagkopoulos, a computer science professor at UC Davis and the director of AIFS.
AIFS is funded through a grant from the USDA Institute of Food and Agriculture. It is part of USDA’s effort to conduct more research on utilizing Artificial Intelligence in agriculture.
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“One of the big things that I specifically focus on, and we work at the Institute for Food Systems is trying to say, how can I make an impact in agriculture and food systems across the board? Whether that has to do with production of different types of vegetables, fruits, nuts, other types of meats or other types of foods,” Earles said. “There’s a lot of potential, we think, all the way from going from the research and lab side through startups, through corporate innovation. And we’re here to kind of find a way to facilitate and integrate that along the way.”
A USDA study shows just 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Investment is expected to grow across the industry from more than $2 billion this year to more than $5 in 2028.
A USDA study shows just 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. (AI Institute For Next Generation Food Systems)
“What our vision is, is how can we have a healthier society and a more sustainable planet? Our mission is to leverage AI to build that, to help towards that goal,” Tagkopoulos said. “AI is doing two things. One is making businesses more productive. And the second is to accelerate innovation. It accelerates innovation by actually focusing on what matters versus what’s out there.”
Researchers are looking into how AI hardware like sensors or robotics can better gather data in the field.
“One of the powers of AI is that it can process a massive amount of data in a very short amount of time and achieve really high performance in pattern recognition,” Earles said.
The technology can help farmers decide where to apply fertilizer and when the best opportunities for harvest might be.
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“There’s great examples out there of being able to process millions of images within the course of every hour to identify where there might be damage due to weeds, presence of weeds or disease or pest, and be able to use various types of either implements to precisely remove those weeds or pests so that the farmer see higher yields. And the consumer sees better fruit, veggies and other products that are coming out of those fields,” Earles said.
One USDA project at the University of Arkansas is looking at using virtual reality to process poultry. Researchers will study whether robots can be used in the field while workers control the devices virtually. While fewer workers are expected to be needed, the cost of the equipment is high.
Researchers are looking into how AI hardware like sensors or robotics can better gather data in the field of farming. (AI Institute For Next Generation Food Systems)
“The question there is how can you make this technology even more cost-effective and the even more practical, which is always a challenge,” Tagkopoulos said.
Controlled environments or indoor farming also see high upfront costs. But some studies have shown that higher crop yields are possible because of fewer weather-related challenges and the ability to grow year-round.
“We see in the future more data being generated, more tools becoming available, easier, much less expensive in terms of AI tools to be able to give recommendations on when to irrigate, when to farm, where to sell. A lot of more collaboration among farmers because now they understand more that they need to share their data. And it’s not about competition. It’s about everybody winning out of it,” Tagkopoulos said.
Controlled environments have received a lot of funding in the past few years. The USDA recently broke ground on a project at Cornell University to research grapes. The National Grape Improvement Center will help scientists study climate adaptable grape varieties and management strategies for growers.
“The opportunity to grow fruits and veggies and other types of crops where they may not otherwise be able to grow has huge potential for delivering all sorts of foods, fresh foods and nutritious foods to urban and or other areas,” Earles said. “AI has the real potential to help us understand how to regulate those types of indoor climates so that it can optimize the output.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25784512/commissioner_andrew_n_ferguson_res.jpg "Trump’s pick for FTC chair promises to go after ‘censorship’ from tech companies")
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Andrew Ferguson to be the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson will take over for Lina Khan, who has earned praise from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance for her efforts to fight big tech.
“Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump says in a post on Truth Social.
According to a document obtained by Punchbowl News’ Ben Brody, Ferguson’s pitch for the job included intentions to “reverse Lina Khan’s anti-business agenda,” “hold big tech accountable and stop censorship,” and “protect freedom of speech and fight wokeness.” The document also said Ferguson would “fight back against the trans agenda.”
Ferguson was first sworn in as an FTC commissioner in April, but Trump says that Ferguson will begin his role as chair on “day one” of his administration.
“At the FTC, we will end Big Tech’s vendetta against competition and free speech,” Ferguson writes in a post on X. “We will make sure that America is the world’s technological leader and the best place for innovators to bring new ideas to life.”
Trump also announced that he is nominating Mark Meador, currently a partner at an antitrust law firm, to be an FTC commissioner.
Managing your inbox can quickly become a daunting task. Many of us find ourselves drowning in a sea of unread emails, making it challenging to stay organized. Dale from Lowell, Arizona, recently reached out with a common frustration:
“My iPhone 13; How do I erase multiple emails from my inbox? Deleting each one individually is time consuming and tedious. Currently 1900 plus.”
Don’t worry, Dale. You’re not alone in this struggle. Let’s dive into some easy steps to declutter your inbox. If you want to delete multiple emails at once on Android, here’s how to do it.
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Mail app on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The Mail app method to delete multiple emails on iPhone
The built-in Mail app on your iPhone 13 offers a straightforward way to delete multiple emails at once:
- Open the Mail app
- Navigate to your inbox and tap on it
- Tap Select in top-right corner
- Select the emails you want to delete by tapping the circles next to them.
- For a quick selection, tap the first email, then slide your finger down the list.
- Once you’ve chosen your emails, tap Trash at the bottom right.
Steps to delete emails in the iPhone Mail app (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Bulk deletion: Tackling thousands of emails at once on iPhone
When faced with an overwhelming number of emails, try this method:
- Open the Mail app
- Navigate to your inbox and tap on it
- Tap Select in top-right corner
- Tap Select All at top-left
- Hit Trash
- Confirm your decision by clicking Trash All
Steps to bulk delete emails in the iPhone Mail app (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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The web browser approach to bulk deleting emails on iPhone
For even more control over bulk deletions, consider using your iPhone’s web browser:
- Open Safari
- Go to your email provider’s website and log in to your account.
- Look for an Edit or Select option
- Choose Select All or a similar function
- Find the Delete or Trash button and tap it
- It will ask you to confirm your decision by clicking Delete all.
This method is particularly effective for quickly clearing out large numbers of emails.
The web browser approach to bulk deleting emails on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Set trash or archive as the default on iPhone
To ensure that deleted emails are automatically sent to your preferred location, follow these simple steps to configure your iPhone settings. This setting helps you efficiently organize your emails by automatically directing deleted messages to the appropriate folder, saving time and reducing inbox clutter.
- Go to Settings
- Scroll down and tap Apps
- Click Mail
- Click Mail Accounts
- Select Your Account
Steps to set trash or archive as the default on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
- Scroll down to Account Settings and click it
- Then click Advanced
- Select Deleted Mailbox or Archive Mailbox to streamline your email management
Steps to set trash or archive as the default on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Managing a cluttered inbox can feel overwhelming, but with these techniques, you’ll be on your way to a more organized inbox. Remember, it’s not just about deleting emails. It’s about creating habits that prevent inbox overload in the future. Consider setting up filters for recurring emails. By implementing these strategies, Dale and other iPhone users can transform their email management from a tedious chore into a quick and efficient task.
What’s the most overwhelming digital clutter challenge you’re currently facing, and how is it impacting your daily productivity? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25783766/2551_D008_00538R_CROP_g_r709.086400.jpg "If you absolutely must sing along with Wicked, do it here")
In response to the utterly baffling discussion as to whether people should be allowed to sing along with Wicked in theaters (absolutely not), Universal is rolling out a bunch of screenings specifically for the folks who fancy themselves background vocalists.
Universal announced today that special interactive, sing-along Wicked screenings are making their way to theaters in the United States, Canada, and select international markets beginning December 25th. In addition to on-screen lyrics for people who aren’t yet off-book, the screenings will feature a special message from stars Arianna Grande and Cynthia Erivo (who has previously come out in favor of audience participation).
In a statement about the screenings, Universal’s president of domestic theatrical distribution Jim Orr described them as a unique opportunity for fans to “become part of the story they’ve embraced so enthusiastically.” But for those of us who just want to leave the singing to the professionals, this sounds like the studio is making sure that we can watch the movie in peace.
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