Farmers often face problems when choosing the best time to pick their fruit. In Washington State, some apple farmers found that the weather was too hot on the day they wanted to harvest. AI technology can help by using data about weather and fruit growth. This smart technology helps save both time and money.
The company Okanagan Specialty Fruits uses AI for apple picking. AI can find small flower buds on apple trees, helping plan the harvest. With accurate predictions, farmers avoid hiring workers when they aren't needed. This is especially helpful for fruits with a short harvest time, like strawberries.
Another company, FruitCast, helps UK farmers with AI. They use it to predict when strawberries and other berries are ready to pick. The system considers weather and watering to make predictions. Although farmers know a lot, AI can quickly check big areas for them.
Original news source: The AI telling farmers when to harvest – BBC News (BBC)
🎧 Listen:
📖 Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. Name some fruits that farmers grow.
2. What happens if fruit is picked too early?
3. What tools have you heard of that can help farmers?
4. How might weather affect farming?
5. Why is it important to pick fruit at the right time?
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
AI helps decide the best time to harvest fruit, avoiding weather issues and saving money.
Washington State is mentioned for its apple growers.
The AI identifies small flower buds on apple trees.
It avoids hiring workers when they are not needed.
FruitCast focuses on predicting when berries are ready to be picked.
AI quickly checks large farm areas, saving time for farmers.
Weather conditions and irrigation are considered in FruitCast's predictions.
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Farmers often face when the time to pick their fruit. In Washington State, some apple farmers found that the weather was too hot on the day they wanted to harvest. AI technology can help by using data about and fruit growth. This smart technology helps save both time and . The company Okanagan Fruits uses AI for apple picking. AI can find small flower buds on apple trees, plan the harvest. With accurate predictions, farmers avoid workers when they aren't needed. This is especially helpful for fruits with a short harvest time, strawberries. Another company, FruitCast, helps UK farmers with AI. They use it to predict when strawberries and other are ready to . The system considers weather and watering to make predictions. Although farmers know a lot, AI can check big areas for them.
💬 Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever visited a farm before? What was it like?
2. Do you think technology makes farming easier or harder? Why?
3. Which fruit do you think is the hardest to pick? Why?
4. What would you like to learn about farming?
5. How important do you think it is to eat fresh fruit?
6. What are some challenges you think farmers face?
7. How can weather changes affect crops?
8. Do you think AI could be used in other parts of farming?
9. What do you think would happen if AI predictions were wrong?
10. Would you like to work with technology in the future? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever grown your own plants or gardened?
12. How do you think farming has changed over the years?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
