Fifteen agricultural Extension agents from across North Carolina recently immersed themselves in a two-day workshop focused on the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. Held at North Carolina State University’s Plant Sciences Building in April, the AI 101 for Extension Agents workshop provided a deep dive into how AI works and its potential to make farming more efficient, productive, and sustainable.
The workshop was part of the multi-institution SAPLINGS project, led by N.C. A&T State University and funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative. The goal of SAPLINGS is to prepare a data- and AI-savvy workforce in agriculture. As NC State’s principal investigator for the SAPLINGS project, Cranos Williams, a professor in the departments of Plant and Microbial Biology and Electrical and Computer Engineering, emphasized the importance of lowering the barrier of entry to AI and data analytics approaches across agricultural stakeholders.
The agents, most of whom are members of an N.C. PSI network of Cooperative Extension agents representing 32 counties across the state, learned about ongoing research and development of AI-based solutions. They also considered their role in bridging the gap between researchers and the end users of agricultural technology. The network leverages agents’ strong local relationships and applied expertise to help drive future initiative projects and to beta-test new technologies on farms.
Dani Jones, an assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering and data science expert, was among nine faculty members and students who gave lightning talks about their AI-related research. Hyde County Agent Andrea Gibbs called the workshop a “valuable chance to engage in projects that hold real potential to benefit our growers.” Since the workshop, Gibbs has already made progress on a new AI-related collaboration with researchers at NC State and East Carolina University, discussing the best ways to use a network of sensors to collect real-time data for more informed water management decisions in Eastern North Carolina.
Rachel Vann, an NC State Extension specialist and N.C. PSI platform director, highlighted the workshop as an impactful example of the spirit of N.C. PSI. It connected the applied expertise of Extension agents with researchers they would not normally interact with, educated them on cutting-edge technologies, and facilitated connections so agents would feel comfortable bringing their producers’ challenges to researchers.
The workshop featured a multifaceted approach, with expert-led talks and demonstrations mixed with opportunities for agents to ask questions, try out software, and share perspectives born of their experience working directly with farmers. Systems engineer Shelly Hunt, with the global data analytics firm SAS, gave the agents an overview of AI and a hands-on training session using SAS Viya, a platform for data management, analytics, and AI development.
Several N.C. PSI researchers and partners showcased their efforts to develop AI-driven technology supporting a range of solutions, from faster nematode identification and analysis to more accurate measurements of methane emissions in cattle. Chris Reberg-Horton, a professor of crop and soil sciences, shared his work using new imaging technology with computer vision and AI to create more efficient ways to identify plant species and estimate the density and biomass of cash crops, cover crops, and weeds.
Reberg-Horton emphasized the role of Extension in bringing smaller, practical ideas to farmers, stating, “Extension has to play a role with smaller ideas – ones that might not be billion-dollar breakthroughs but could really help North Carolina farmers.”
Kimberley Webb, a Wake County agricultural agent, came away from the workshop eager to be part of the university’s efforts to use AI to tackle farming challenges. She appreciated the focus on helping agents analyze data to better explain it to farmers and make recommendations that will help them financially.
The workshop underscored the importance of Extension agents in communicating complex technologies and ideas to end users and building strong relationships with farmers to understand their needs and feed that back to researchers. This collaborative approach aims to develop solutions that will work on the farm, ultimately benefiting North Carolina’s agricultural community.