Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Making Strides in Harnessing AI to Support Farmers

Thursday, June 8th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) is making strides in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to support farmers in their decision-making process.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, WSMB is funding a project titled "Evaluating the potential of an algorithm-based decision-making tool (Agroptimizer) to increase farmers' profitability in Wisconsin," led by Dr. Shawn Conley.

The project aims to leverage grower data to develop AI tools that optimize yield and return on investment for farmers. The Agroptimizer program, an AI-driven decision support tool, utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data and identify the most effective cropping systems to maximize yield and profitability in each field.

After two years of research, the project's results have demonstrated the success of AI-based soybean cropping systems in increasing both yield and profit. AI-recommended systems consistently outperformed traditional systems, showing a higher yield probability of 99% with an average increase of 4.2 bushels per acre.

Moreover, profitability was enhanced by an average difference of $2.60 per acre, with a probability of 60%. The WSMB's investment in AI research reflects their ongoing commitment to advancing soybean production through innovative approaches.

In the fiscal year 2023, WSMB is funding a total of 18 projects, ranging from herbicide resistance to biological seed treatments. These initiatives aim to address various challenges faced by farmers, furthering their goal of sustainable and profitable soybean farming in Wisconsin.

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