American farmers turning to AI to aid uncertain future

Published On Feb 18, 2025, 11:40 AM

The U.S. agriculture industry is facing significant challenges in 2025 due to labor shortages, water restrictions, and potential tariffs, impacting especially small farms which earn under $350,000 annually. Despite the industry generating over half a trillion dollars in cash receipts in 2023, profit margins are typically low, putting financial pressure on farmers. As a response, many are turning to technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to tackle these challenges. Innovations like AI-driven weeders and beehive monitoring systems are emerging as solutions to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labor. Companies like John Deere are also investing heavily in AI technologies to enhance productivity in farming operations. The adoption of such technologies may help stabilize earnings in the agriculture sector amidst increasing operational strains.