Teaching Guide

Topic: AI Technology in Farming

Host: Megan Loreto 

Guest: Mike McCloskey, Jacqueline McCloskey, and Jason Jarrell 

Summary: AI in farming is a controversial topic because it offers promising benefits while also raising important concerns. Many people see AI as a way to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support better decision-making through tools like drones, sensors, and automated machinery. However, others worry about issues such as the high cost of these technologies, data privacy, potential job changes, and increased dependence on large tech companies. These mixed perspectives show that AI in agriculture is complex, with both opportunities and challenges that need to be carefully considered as farming continues to evolve.

Objectives

1.Describe how AI and automation are currently used in modern agricultural operations.

2. Explain the benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations of implementing AI on farms.

3. Evaluate how AI may shape the future of agriculture and the skills young agriculturists need to succeed.

Prelistening Questions (open ended- formative)

1. What do you already know about how technology is used in farming today?

2. How do you think AI could help or hurt agricultural operations?

3. Why might data be important for farmers who use technology on their farms?

Guided Questions (multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer) 

1. According to the first interview, what is one major concern farmers have about AI technology?

A. Farmers are worried AI will replace all crops

B. Data privacy and who controls agricultural data

C. AI technology is only available outside the U.S.

D. AI makes livestock more aggressive

2. According to the interview, what major factor makes AI valuable in farming?

A. It replaces veterinariansB. It analyzes huge amounts of farm dataC. It eliminates all manual laborD. It guarantees higher milk prices

3.What economic challenge currently limits full robotic milking?

A. Lack of trained techniciansB. Inconsistent milk qualityC. Safety risks for cows

D. High repair and maintenance costs

4. What was Jason's main concern when he thinks about AI in agriculture?

A. It will increase crop yields.

B. It will reduce the need for tractors.

C. It represents "the unknown" and may increase costs.

D. It will make farming more fun.

5. According to Jason, what important aspect of farming does aI Lack?

A. The ability to drive tractors.

B. Ability to plant seeds.

C. Skills to calculate feeding rations.

D. Intuition and sensing when something is wrong.

Postlistening Questions (align with objectives, openended, understand level, summative, thought provoking)

1.Based on the interview, how do you think AI could transform the daily work of farmers in the next decade?

2.What ethical responsibilities do farmers have when implementing AI and automation on their operations?

3.What skills and knowledge do you believe young agriculturists should develop now in order to work with AI-based technologies in the future?

Rubric

Level 1- 1 pt-Answers the questions with lack of detail.

Level 2- 2 pt-Answers the questions in detail, but lacks key points.

Level 3- 3 pt- Answers the questions in detail while hitting key points.

(points are aligned based on how they answer the post listening questions- for all 3 questions)