Iowa State Develops AI Tool to Help Farmers Identify and Remove Pests

The new app uses machine learning to detect weeds and insects, helping farmers save on labor costs and reduce pesticide use.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:53pm

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Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new mobile app called Pest ID that uses artificial intelligence to help farmers identify and manage pests on their land. The app allows users to upload photos of weeds or insects, which the AI technology can then classify and provide guidance on how to remove them effectively.

Why it matters

As farmers face growing challenges with herbicide and insecticide resistance, tools like Pest ID can help them take a more targeted and sustainable approach to pest management. By catching problems early and providing customized recommendations, the app aims to reduce reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides and preserve valuable resources.

The details

The Pest ID app has been in development for nearly a decade, with researchers training the AI model using millions of images of weeds and insects, as well as data collected by Iowa State experts. While the current version focuses on identifying pests, the team is also working to expand the app's capabilities to detect plant diseases like southern rust.

  • Pest ID has been in development for roughly a decade.
  • The current version of the app is available now for farmers to use.

The players

Arti Singh

A researcher and associate professor at Iowa State University who is behind the development of the Pest ID app.

Iowa State University

A public research university located in Ames, Iowa, where the Pest ID app was developed.

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What they’re saying

“AI is everywhere. If we are not making friends with AI, we are losing power, our power to do things which we were earlier not able to do.”

— Arti Singh, Researcher and Associate Professor, Iowa State University

“This kind of avoids having to pay for an agronomist to come out and check things for you. You can do it yourself.”

— Unnamed Farmer

“In a time where we are developing herbicide resistance, insecticide resistance, this is where I feel our app can help us, that it can identify these species. It can also give management, rather than giving, like, a broad spectrum, just spray this one pesticide or insecticide again and again.”

— Arti Singh, Researcher and Associate Professor, Iowa State University

What’s next

Researchers are working to expand the Pest ID app to include the ability to identify plant diseases, such as southern rust, that can impact crop yields.

The takeaway

The Pest ID app developed by Iowa State University represents a promising new tool for farmers to take a more proactive and sustainable approach to pest management. By leveraging AI technology to quickly identify and address weed and insect problems, the app can help reduce reliance on costly and environmentally harmful pesticides.