AI Technology Helps Mid-Atlantic Farmers Cut Nitrogen Costs

Feb 10, 2026
By Farms.com

Optimizing Fertilizer with PlantMap3D

Farmers across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania are set to benefit from a new USDA-backed initiative that uses artificial intelligence to better measure how cover crops contribute nitrogen to the soil.

The technology centers on PlantMap3D, developed by North Carolina State University. Cameras mounted on farm equipment capture detailed images of cover crops, while AI software identifies species and estimates nitrogen availability on an acre-by-acre basis.

By providing more accurate insights, the project aims to help growers maintain crop yields while reducing fertilizer costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient runoff into waterways. TNC estimates the initiative could eliminate the need for roughly 3 million pounds of purchased nitrogen fertilizer over time.

Led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and supported by $16 million in funding from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), the program will help producers adopt advanced nitrogen management tools either directly or through agribusiness partners.

The effort is part of the USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and brings together TNC, universities, private sector companies, and state and federal agriculture agencies. Its focus is on improving nitrogen decisions for corn planted after multi-species cover crops, an area where many farmers currently lack precise data.

Over the next four years, the program is expected to reach up to 150,000 acres across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including about 20,000 acres in Pennsylvania, 92,500 acres in Maryland and 37,500 acres in Delaware with the first growing season beginning this spring.

“Knowledge is power, and this program arms TNC and our agricultural partners with unparalleled data that will boost biodiversity, water quality and farmers’ bottom lines in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, a globally important conservation landscape,” said Amy Jacobs, Chesapeake Bay director at The Nature Conservancy.

“We are thrilled to be working with partners that are leaders in their field to deploy this new technology to support farmers with solutions that are both good for the environment and their businesses.”

Farmers can apply to participate through February 15, 2026, with more information available in the PlantMap3D RCPP Fact Sheet.

Photo Credit: PlantMap3D

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.