Plowing and sowing
Farm Worker · Field Crop Farming
“Plowing and sowing” (Farm Worker) is being replaced by AI: it entered in 2015 and is projected to be largely replaced by 2028.
AI enters
2015
Largely replaced
2028
Replacement progress
85%
Technology / key factor
GNSS-guided autonomous tractors
What this task is
Farmers drive tractors for long stretches to plow and level fields, then sow seed at set row spacing, plant spacing and depth, keeping every pass straight and even.
How AI replaces it
From 2015, GNSS-based autosteer systems were fitted to tractors, enabling centimeter-level straight passes and automatic turns. As driverless machinery matures, plowing and sowing should be largely unmanned by about 2028.
What stays human
Farmers schedule machines, plan field operations and fix breakdowns, with one person overseeing several driverless units. Skills with machinery and digital systems matter more than driving.