UF Uses AI to Forecast Citrus and Rural Broadband for 12 States
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**University of Florida researchers are using artificial intelligence to help citrus growers better forecast their seasonal production.
According to www.morningagclips.com, a preliminary study found their technology predicts yields with 98% accuracy, up from the 75% to 85% accuracy growers get from manually counts.
So far, UF/IFAS researchers prefer one of two yield-prediction models that combines data from unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, with data gathered by hand.
www.morningagclips.com/uf-scientists-use-ai-to-try-to-more-accurately-predict-citrus-yield/
**California’s biggest wildfire is leading to widespread livestock evacuations and efforts to care for animals left behind.
The Dixie Fire is the second largest in California’s history and has destroyed thousands of acres of rangeland, including for migratory cattle.
Farm Bureaus in Butte, Sierra and Plumas counties are partnering to help feed and maintain livestock. Similar efforts are underway in Nevada County’s River Fire.
**The USDA is investing $167-million to deploy broadband infrastructure across rural areas in 12 states.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says generations ago, the federal government recognized that without affordable access to electricity, Americans couldn’t fully participate in a modern society or economy.
He says broadband internet is the new electricity and the goal is to build ‘future-proof’ infrastructure so we finally reach 100% high-speed broadband coverage.
The states to benefit from this package are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
