Farmers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for help with day-to-day decisions as they manage rising costs, weather uncertainty, and tighter margins.
Bloomberg says a new McKinsey Global Farmer Insights report finds 17% of farmers worldwide now use generative AI for farm-related tasks.
Adoption is even higher in North America, where 23% of farmers report using the technology.
McKinsey says the trend reflects farmers’ need for faster information and more efficient decision-making after several years of financial pressure.
Generative AI can help growers quickly access agronomic advice and evaluate options without making major investments in hardware.
But farmers aren’t ready to replace human expertise.
Just 6% cite AI tools as a trusted source for farm decisions, compared with 56% who rely on technical agronomists.
Sales representatives also remain influential, although their share fell from 67% in 2024 to 56% this year.
