Weeds remain one of the most persistent problems in agriculture. But the biggest issue facing modern farmers isn’t getting rid of weeds; mechanical tools and herbicides can do that. Instead, the difficulty lies in identifying and killing weeds without harming crops.

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Across the agricultural industry, AI tools are beginning to make a difference for farmers. That’s good news for an industry struggling against foes like the climate crisis and shifts in trade. From complex robots to chatbots, farmers are testing out a range of tools to hone their processes and achieve goals once out of reach.

Sarah Schinckel, [John Deere’s] director of emerging technologies, said AI has already improved its agricultural equipment. In 2024, she said, John Deere’s See & Spray system was used to spray over 1 million acres of farmland. Because the machine only sprays plants identified as weeds, the system was able to weed this acreage using 8 million gallons less herbicide than would typically be needed.

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