From agriculture to AI-griculture: How tech is changing farming

From milking eight cows in a byre to managing a herd of 300, George McMaster's farming career has come a long way. Now, he relies on AI to monitor his cattle's health, using an algorithm that assigns each cow an ID and records daily videos. This technology, known as CattleEye, flags any changes in the animals long before they become visible to the human eye.

George's son Jack, taking over the farm, has embraced the CattleEye app, noting that the camera helps detect health issues early, leading to better milk production and happier cows.

In rural Tyrone, Caleb Howard manages his 90 Jersey cows using a robotic milking machine. Unlike traditional milking times, the cows decide when to enter the machine, making the process more efficient. Howard emphasizes the importance of high-speed broadband in this transformation, as it allowed him to open a farm shop with electronic payment. Project Stratum delivered this high-speed broadband, significantly impacting the local economy by enabling businesses to thrive in rural areas.

Robert Smyth, with a herd of 100 dairy cows near Randalstown in County Antrim, uses the FarmDrive app for all record-keeping and compliance. This app replaces traditional paperwork, allowing for real-time updates and easy access to reports. Smyth believes AI can manage farms better, improving inputs and outputs, but emphasizes that AI should not replace human decision-making.

Former President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, Ian Marshall, sees AI as a revolutionary force in agriculture. He believes that by leveraging data, farmers can achieve economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Marshall envisions a future where technology not only increases efficiency but also ensures the production of high-quality, sustainable food.