Farm City Luncheon 2024 Features AI’s Growing Role in Martin County Agriculture

PALM CITY, Fla. - The 7th Annual Farm City Luncheon on November 21 brought together Martin County’s urban and rural residents to celebrate the important relationship between farmers, consumers, community leaders, and everyone in between who contributes to the community’s safe, abundant food supply.

The nonprofit One Martin and the Martin County Farm Bureau hosted the luncheon at Rockin H Ranch in Palm City with the theme of Technology in Today’s Agriculture.

“People are always surprised when they find out what it means to run a farm or ranch today,” said One Martin President Rick Hartman, a 4th generation Martin County rancher. “It’s high tech. And it has to be. Agriculture is a major driver of the Martin County economy. We’re feeding our local community, the nation, and the world. We need every tool we can find to boost our crops and protect our natural resources.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Katie Migliaccio, Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida. Dr. Migliaccio described the incredible advances in best management practices in agriculture attributable to the targeted and innovative use of Artificial Intelligence in growing and protecting our country’s food supply.

“AI is in everything we do,” Migliaccio said, “from finding music we like to using GPS to get to our destination. In agriculture, it is helping us in the management of critical decision-making like when and where to water crops or spray weed-specific fertilizer.”

Dr. Migliaccio also described digital platforms that enable scientists to test new ideas for processes such as estimating or enhancing a crop yield. “In just a day or a week in the lab, using AI platforms, we can determine what would happen in a season or more in the ground, moving innovation further and faster.”

The sell-out event featured a farm to table lunch prepared by Mark John Muller with Ellie’s Downtown Deli & catering and included locally sourced goods from Adams Ranch, Agri-Gator Farms and Florida Crystals. 

Sponsors included Apogee, Ashley Capital, Becker Tree Farm, Midbrook 1st Realty, Atlantic Fields, Gunster Law, Hartman Real Estate, RV Johnson & Auto Owners Insurance, Swallowtail Enterprises, The Ranch Insurance, US Sugar, Agri-Gators, Co-Advantage, Family Lands Remembered, Farm Credit of Florida, Lucido and Associates, Ralicki Wealth Management, Shearwater Marine, Stuart Main Street, Team Parks, Traffic & Mobility Consultants, and Wedgeworth Inc.

Farm-City Week is celebrated nationally each year during the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Educational events during this time celebrate and recognize the beneficial partnerships between rural and urban communities that make our food supply safe and plentiful. Across the state of Florida, members of the agricultural community join with local businesses and residents to learn more about the importance and impact of agriculture on the economy, the culture, and the future of the state and nation.

About One Martin

One Martin is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more informed citizenry and providing opportunities for civil discussions on topics of importance to Martin County. Click here to sign up for One Martin’s newsletter or follow them on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/OneMartinCounty. For more info visitwww.onemartin.org.