USDA to test satellites, AI to try to improve crop estimates amid farmer criticism

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to initiate a pilot project that incorporates advanced technology to enhance its crop acreage and yield estimates, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins. This move comes in response to mounting criticism from farmers and traders regarding the reliability of government agricultural data.

Rollins highlighted the data modernization plan during the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, following a series of listening sessions with farmers and agricultural groups. The project will employ satellite imagery, geospatial tools, crop models, and farmer surveys to improve the accuracy of crop reporting. Additionally, the USDA plans to explore the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.

These changes aim to minimize the number of data requests from farmers while increasing the timeliness and precision of the agency's statistics. The USDA also intends to offer farmers more comprehensive information about its methodologies, survey response rates, and data limitations. The criticism primarily targets the National Agricultural Statistics Service, whose influential reports can impact commodity markets, crop farmer income, and federal farm programs.