KCCI-TV Des Moines, IA reports:
DES MOINES, Iowa — Company-wide layoffs at Des Moines-based agriculture company Landus Cooperative are part of a plan to introduce AI technology onto farms, CEO and president Matt Carstens told KCCI after laying off around 10 percent of the company’s Iowa workforce on Friday.
Carstens said “around 55” people were notified through a Teams call that they were being laid off, effective that day. Cuts were made across the company, from various position levels and Landus locations, the CEO said, motivated by efforts to boost employee faith in new endeavors the company is pursuing.
“We’re really excited for what that future holds, but the big step is getting employees that want to be here, have the belief and have that attitude to help lean into that future with our farmer-owners,” Carstens said.
Carstens said Landus is introducing data gathering and consolidating systems that use AI to help farmers assess their crops.
“Now, we’ll be taking eight to 12 flights over their field, either by drone, airplane or satellite, that will bring back all the information on every inch of their field, of what’s going on and how it’s affecting their operation and their profitability,” Carstens said.
To read the entire article and a video click here.
