Just like agriculture revolutions like the plow and tractor, AI is improving the way farmers are producing food. Farmers must continuously adapt their farming practices, and AI is increasingly part of the tools they use to grow nutritious food.
Michigan’s food and agriculture system remains a major contributor to income and employment in the state’s economy, contributing an estimated $104.7 billion in direct, indirect, and induced economic activity annually. Well-run farms play a key role in maintaining a strong state economy, and Michigan has some of the most efficient and innovative farms in the United States.
For example, at Schweitzer Orchards, a family-run farm for five generations in Sparta, Michigan, AI is being incorporated at every stage of apple growing, from deciding where to plant seeds to ensuring fresh apples make it to your grocery store shelves. Across the state, the nation's third-largest apple producer, farmers like the Schweitzers are increasingly using AI to ensure everyone can eat fresher, healthier food that is also sustainable. In fact, 40% of farms in Michigan are using precision agriculture practices, which leverage AI to optimize planting, increase yields, and reduce waste.
Throughout the growing cycle, AI helps farmers create more sustainable farms, waste fewer apples, and sell better selections at the grocery store or farmers' market.
Planting
Even before a single seed is sown, farmers in Western Michigan are integrating AI into their planting strategies. Because the way that a crop is planted can affect how easy it is to pick fruit up to six years later, Schweitzer Orchards is experimenting with optimized orchard planting design to increase the number of trees planted per acre and boost apple production. The orchard’s owner Nick Schweitzer explained that this way of planting means his farm can utilize AI in the future to make "picking more efficient" (WCGU).
Growing
Once apple trees start bearing fruit, AI continues to play a role by helping farmers manage environmental factors that can affect fruit quality. Schweitzer Orchards uses smart traps that continuously monitor harmful insects, such as codling moths, to forecast their life cycles and better target pest management. Using AI-powered image recognition, these traps allow farmers to precisely apply pesticides only when needed, rather than just spraying broadly, making the whole process more sustainable.
Harvesting
When apples are finally ripe and ready to be picked, AI technology is also revolutionizing the harvesting process. With oversight from human workers, AI-enabled pickers make apple picking faster and more efficient.Once apples are harvested, they need to be put into storage and ultimately sold. AI-powered tools are helping farmers to estimate the size and color of apples. Forecasting apple size and color also ensures that the apples reach their buyers quickly, leading to better, fresher apples on your shelf.
Farming might be as old as human society, but AI is essential for farmers in Western Michigan and across the country to continue to innovate. From planting to growing, picking to shipping, AI is working behind the scenes, tending to and nurturing the orchard's success. Through the use of AI, farmers can ensure their apples grow healthier, are harvested more efficiently, and reach your grocery store in peak condition.
