The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Summary
Farmers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to better predict the best time to harvest fruit. AI systems analyze images and weather data to estimate crop readiness, helping farmers plan labor and avoid losses from bad timing.Key Facts
- Extreme weather, like high heat, can stop farmers from working at harvest time.
- AI models help predict ideal harvest dates by using crop images and weather data.
- Okanagan Specialty Fruits in Washington uses AI cameras on tractors to count buds and fruit on apple trees.
- The AI predictions depend on detailed, farm-specific historical data for accuracy.
- Apples have a longer harvest window, but berries like strawberries require precise timing to avoid crop loss.
- FruitCast, a UK company, provides harvest forecasts for many types of berries and tomatoes.
- Farmers can gather images using drones, smartphones, or farm vehicles for AI analysis.
- FruitCast claims their forecasts are about 90% accurate one week ahead and 83% accurate three weeks ahead.
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