Microsoft Supports FFA With AI

Microsoft and National FFA are expanding Farm Beats for students, a program using sensors and artificial intelligence to teach precision agriculture. 185 FFA chapters will receive free classroom kits. Christine White, National FFA, chief program officer, says it's a big step forward in ag education.

“So Farm Beats for students is an opportunity for young people to get their hands on technology, understand AI, start to see how data plays a role within agriculture. So they have a system that allows them to use sensors to test things like moisture, light, pH, and be able to really diagnose what's happening in the soil or with a plant that they're working with.”

Microsoft saw an opportunity to better connect with students and help educate them on emerging ag technologies, according to White,

“Opportunity to connect with FFA chapters and help young people use these tools and how it applies to the agriculture perspective. So we partnered in a couple different ways. We helped with the creating a curriculum, and we've piloted this program last year with students and teachers in four states, and now we're expanding it to all 50 states.”

White says they have been working with states to identify chapters ready to adopt the technology and integrate it into their curricula.