Have you ever wished for more hours in the day? Whether it's planning crop schedules, managing employees, or trying to expand your business, time always seems to slip away. Over the past 60 days, I've explored a game-changing tool that's helped me save hours—and it could do the same for you.
It started when a trusted business associate challenged me to dedicate the first hour of each workday to exploring how artificial intelligence, or AI, could help build my business. Starting from zero, I made small improvements daily and learned practical lessons that can be applied to any agricultural operation.
I used AI to tackle a major project: rebuilding my business plan from the ground up. Here’s what I discovered AI can do:
- Save time. Once I understood AI's basic capabilities, I tackled a major project: rebuilding my business plan from the ground up. This meant consolidating insights from nearly 20 documents I'd created over the past three years. What would typically have taken two weeks of focused work was accomplished in just three days with AI's assistance.
- Deliver better results. The result wasn't just faster—it was much better.
- Focus strategic thinking. The new plan provided clearer direction and revealed opportunities I might have missed on my own.
Best of all, the time saved meant more hours at home with my boys over Christmas break.
How can AI help on your farm?
Think about those annual tasks that drain your energy and time. Take employee performance reviews, for instance. AI can help structure evaluations, suggest areas for discussion, and even draft initial assessments based on your input—all while maintaining your personal management style.
Like many farmers, I initially found AI and machine learning intimidating. The game-changer for me was a simple mindset shift I discovered in Geoff Woods's book 'The AI-Driven Leader.' Woods introduces a powerful concept: you are the thought leader, and AI is your thought partner. This perspective transformed how I approach the technology.
Just as you wouldn't expect a trusted advisor to make decisions for you, AI doesn't replace your farming intuition. It enhances it. It's like having a tireless assistant who works around the clock, providing data and insights that help you make faster, smarter choices for your operation.
Through my experience, I've strategic thinking as the primary driver for using AI to transform your farming operation.
While many people think of AI primarily for content creation, its most powerful application is strategic thinking. AI can analyze market trends, weather patterns and operational data to help you explore different scenarios for income diversification that align with your farm's strengths and long-term goals. This strategic advantage is followed by enhanced decision-making, content creation, idea generation, and detailed analysis.
Use AI strategically
Like any powerful tool, it's essential to use AI strategically. Focus on the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of your results. Don't get caught up experimenting with AI on low-impact activities that won't move the needle for your operation.
Recently, I spoke with a successful business owner who thought AI was only useful for writing tasks like drafting letters or reports. He was amazed to learn how it could help evaluate expansion opportunities, optimize resource allocation and identify potential risks.
In today's competitive agricultural environment, having AI as a strategic thinking partner isn't just helpful—it's becoming essential for staying ahead.
Getting started with AI is simpler than you might think. Here's the straightforward approach I recommend:
- First, choose one simple task—perhaps drafting your weekly crop report or organizing equipment maintenance schedules.
- Second, start with a single AI platform like ChatGPT or Claude. These tools are powerful enough to handle most farm management needs.
- Third, give yourself permission to learn as you go. You don't need to be perfect; you just need to begin.
I've been encouraged by the emails from fellow farmers asking how AI could help them save time and make better decisions. Your questions confirm what I've learned: AI isn't just for tech companies or big corporations. It’s a practical tool that can transform how you run your farm. If it can help me save time, think strategically and achieve more in my business, imagine what it can do for yours.
Ready to take the first step? Choose one task from your daily routine and give AI a try. You might be surprised by what you can accomplish.
Matt Boos is the founder of Agrigrowth Consulting, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With over 20 years of experience in agribusiness sales and management across seven states, Matt has gained deep insights into what drives the success of top-performing farms. He specializes in helping multi-generational farms grow strategically through peer group formation and facilitation, auxiliary business development, and succession planning.