AI-Powered Data Helps Farmer Make Informed Decisions
For Kansas farmer Tyler Tobald, scouting for weeds, disease, insects, and nutrient inefficiencies has never been more efficient, effective, and economical than through timely data generated by AI-powered leaf-level insights.
Tobald, who operates JTAC Farms in Glasco, Kansas, relies on technology from Taranis, which uses drones, planes, and satellites to collect the data without him ever stepping foot in a field so he can make informed decisions on how to manage his crops. The data also allows him to evaluate results, prioritize fields, revise plans throughout the season, and better prepare for the following season and beyond. Tobald is a customer of the farmer-owned cooperative Central Valley Ag, which provides the technology in his region.
On the northern end of his farm, Tobald said it was a challenge to control weeds last season. But the story was different on the south end of the farm, thanks to discoveries made by a drone that showed much less weed pressure through AI-generated data.
“All we had to do was spray the perimeter of the south end,” Tobald said during a recent webinar, “Deciphering Next Season: How AI-Powered Leaf-Level Insights Can Accelerate Decision Making and Profitability in 2024 and Beyond,” presented by Taranis. “The whole field is 133 acres, and we ended up spraying 90 acres of it. With not having to spray 43 acres at $45 an acre, which was a good bit of money put back in my pocket. It was an educated decision. The data doesn’t lie.”
Trevor Cox, the Advanced Cropping Systems Regional Manager in Kansas for Central Valley Ag, is Tobald’s agronomic advisor and said during the webinar that Taranis’ technology “has become a big part of what we do” and that its reliability has enabled CVA to strengthen relationships with its clients. Cox said the number of acres on which CVA used the technology doubled from 2022 to 2023 and will continue to grow this year.
Tim Pearson, the Regional Account Manager for Taranis, said during the webinar that Taranis’ technology, which allows information to be collected “in a fraction of the time” it would take with manual scouting, enables growers and advisors to make decisions faster and with confidence.
“AI doesn’t miss anything,” Pearson added.
If you missed the live broadcast of this webinar, “Deciphering Next Season: How AI-Powered Leaf-Level Insights Accelerate Decision-Making and Profitability in 2024 and Beyond,” you can view the archived version online here or visit CropLife.com/webinars and check it out today.