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Dec. 1, 2025 Elise Schafer, Feed Strategy magazine As America's agricultural sector navigates trade uncertainty and shifting market dynamics, the question isn't just how U.S. agriculture will survive the next harvest, but how the industry will thrive over the next decade. Technology will be the determining factor, according to agtech expert Arthur Erickson, CEO of Hylio, a provider of crop-spraying drone systems. Erickson sat down with Feed & Grain to share his assessment of where the industry should focus its innovation efforts -- and his perspective on the urgent need for transformation. The need for automation Erickson said there are many emerging technologies crucial for long-term agricultural resilience, but one ranks at the top of his list. "The autonomous field ops are an existential necessity to maintain U.S. farming. Period," Erickson said. His reasoning comes down to the labor crisis that has long plagued agriculture. "We are seeing a massive labor problem in the U.S. ag sector only getting worse; there frankly aren't enough people willing -- immigrant or otherwise -- to run these farm operations," Erickson said. "If we don't continue automating, by the time this and the next generation age out of it, there may simply not be enough humans left to grow food, and then we'll start seeing price hikes, shortages, etc." Better insights with AI and data While autonomous operations provide the muscle, advanced data analysis and AI provide the brain. Erickson said that digital intelligence is already transforming farm decision-making, though its sophistication varies widely. "Crop scouting -- with drone, satellite or otherwise -- before, during, and after the season to measure yield results, presence of pests, nutritional deficiencies or other issues, and effectiveness of treatments throughout the growing cycle gives you better insight into where your spend was effective and where it wasn't." Not all data tools are equal, however. Infrastructure to power it all The third critical technology isn't a piece of equipment -- it's digital infrastructure. "Bandwidth has to be sufficient enough for these tools to be practically used or else they won't be adopted," Erickson said. "If it takes three days to run a cloud-based crop analysis because the internet speed is 5mb, it's not going to be adopted." Looking ahead, Erickson identified rural connectivity as an essential policy priority. A new vision for U.S. agriculture Together, autonomous operations, AI-driven precision systems and rural broadband form the foundation for a smarter, more resilient agricultural economy. Erickson believes that embracing these tools isn't just about keeping pace with global competitors -- it's about strengthening local production, improving efficiency and opening new paths to profitability. By combining automation with data-driven insights and reliable connectivity, the U.S. can build stronger regional food systems that meet growing domestic demand for affordable, sustainably produced food, while boosting margins and reducing input costs. In the decade ahead, the integration of these technologies could usher in a new era where innovation supports economic growth and environmental stewardship. To read the article in its entirety https://www.feedstrategy.com/blogs/blog/15770786/ag-tech-expert-3-crucial-technologies-for-us-agricultures-survival?utm_source=Omeda&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=NL-Feed+Strategy+eNews&utm_campaign=NL-Feed+Strategy+eNews_20251201_0300&oly_enc_id=0351B5951923H6T">click here. Tweet |
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