Will AI replace Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse?

AI can do 4% of the work Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 27 tasks, while 3 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 17 physical tasks. 6 still need a person.

AI is already doing this1 · 1% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Provide information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products.Mostly automated1% of time

AI could do this next3 · 3% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.1% of time
  • Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs.1% of time
  • Record information about plants and plant growth.1% of time

Robots can technically do this17 · 82% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.Robots: purpose built settings20% of time
  • Participate in the inspection, grading, sorting, storage, and post-harvest treatment of crops.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
  • Plant, spray, weed, fertilize, water, and prune plants, shrubs, and trees, using gardening tools.Robots: structured workplaces9% of time
  • Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.Robots: almost anywhere6% of time
  • Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities.Robots: structured workplaces4% of time
  • Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, and pack them into boxes to fill orders.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Regulate greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Dig, rake, and screen soil, filling cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time
  • Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality.Robots: structured workplaces1% of time

Still needs a person6 · 13% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Set up and operate irrigation equipment.4% of time
  • Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.2% of time
  • Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems.2% of time
  • Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.2% of time
  • Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.1% of time
  • Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.1% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 82% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Do the 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 3 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 17 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Agricultural Equipment Operators0%Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals6%Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products3%Animal Breeders12%Agricultural Inspectors26%Logging Equipment Operators2%

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