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How exposed to AI is a Precision Agriculture Technician?

Of the 22 tasks O*NET lists for precision agriculture technicians, 5 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 5 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Agrintelligence Specialist (Agriculture Intelligence Specialist)AgronomistAgronomy ConsultantCrop ConsultantCrop SpecialistPrecision Agriculture Analyst (Precision Ag Analyst)Precision Agriculture Specialist (Precision Ag Specialist)Precision AgronomistPrecision Farming CoordinatorPrecision Technology Agronomist (Precision Tech Agronomist)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
22
tasks rated for this occupation
39%
hold a degree, from a survey of 23
14k
people do this job in the US
26 of 60
least protected in science

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

5
  • Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability
  • Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability
  • Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans
  • Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated
  • Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology

Only with software built on top

12
  • Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS)
  • Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients
  • Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software
  • Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information
  • Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data
  • Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices
  • Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history
  • Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps
  • Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data
  • Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history
  • Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns
  • Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems

Cannot be sped up

5
  • Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps
  • Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings
  • Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions
  • Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed
  • Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.