CFP Voices: Artificial Intelligence in Precision Agriculture

U.S. agriculture and our nation's food security faces rapidly increasing pressure from a changing climate, competition for resources, and uncertain global markets that threaten rural prosperity due to reduced profits, harsher growing conditions, and environmental degradation. This is especially true here in Western Colorado, where small multi-generational farms and ranches make up the backbone of the state's economy while providing food and fiber to the nation.
Supported by the Community Funding Partnership in 2021, this unique project entitled: "Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Water, Nutrient, & Salinity Management in the Western U.S.," helped equip the Western Colorado Research Center at Grand Valley with an overhead traveling sprinkler system on a 12.5-acre field to support greater research and data collection on digital and precision agriculture. This precision agriculture research project supports the improvement of crop yields, efficient irrigation, and reduced fertilizer use. Partnering institutions include Kansas State University and the University of California at Riverside with their respective Colleges of Agriculture. These partner institutions are providing the intellectual leadership and collaboration to engage graduate students and other researchers. Further, WCRC-GV expects to offer opportunities to partner with local water resource management entities in the Grand Valley of Colorado, along with farmers intrigued by and supportive of these new advanced technologies.
This video is the fourth in a series of vignettes designed to tell the stories of the people behind the water projects representing the innovation, community, and resilience across the Western Slope of Colorado.