The Lebanon Valley Expo Center was buzzing this week as we kicked off day one of the 2026 FCCB Agricultural Forum. While the smell of coffee and the sight of familiar faces reminded us of the deep roots of our community, the conversation was focused firmly on the future.
Chris Landis, our Head of Ag Lending, sat down with Doug Johnson of Johnson’s Ag Outlook to unpack a topic that is currently transforming every corner of our industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Power of Synthesis
For years, we’ve heard that “data is the new oil.” Modern tractors and combines are essentially rolling computers, harvesting millions of data points on soil health, moisture levels, and yield maps. However, for many producers, that data remains trapped in separate silos.
As Doug Johnson pointed out during the forum, the true value of AI isn’t in the “robots”—it’s in the organization. AI has the unique ability to pull together disparate streams of information—weather patterns, market trends, and historic field performance—to provide a holistic view of an operation. It turns a mountain of confusing numbers into actionable insights.
The “Cranium” Check: Managing AI Risks
While the potential is vast, the forum didn’t shy away from the risks. AI is still in its infancy, and like any young technology, it lacks significant guardrails. One of the most striking takeaways from the day was how sensitive these tools are; something as simple as changing the capitalization in a prompt can yield a completely different—and sometimes incorrect—result.
Doug’s advice to our attendees was blunt: “Don’t check your cranium at the door.”
There is a massive divide between free AI tools and paid, validated subscriptions. Free versions often scrape the entire internet, including unverified or biased sources. When Doug asked a free AI tool about its own accuracy, it admitted to an error rate between 40% and 90%.
In agriculture, where a 5% margin can be the difference between a profitable year and a loss, we cannot afford to rely on unverified data. At FCCB, we believe in the human element. Use technology to highlight what you might have missed, but always validate the response and ask for sources.
Finding Our Voice in a 1% World
Beyond the technology itself, the conversation shifted to a more pressing cultural challenge. Today, only 1% of the population feeds the other 99%. Most consumers are now three generations removed from the farm; many can’t tell the difference between a tractor and a combine.
“Only 1% of the population feeds the other 99%. We have to tell our story, because if we don’t, inaccurate information will fill that gap.” — Doug Johnson, Johnson’s Ag Outlook, LLC
If we don’t tell the story of American agriculture, inaccurate information will fill the vacuum. We saw a glimpse of the solution right in the front row of the forum: 25 members of the FFA.
These young leaders are digital natives. While older generations might turn to the nightly news, these students are masters of YouTube and TikTok. They have the tools to show the world the reality of stewardship, hard work, and innovation that defines our local farms. Our job is to empower them to be the voice of the industry.
Do You Need AI to Succeed?
A common question among producers is whether adoption is mandatory for survival. The consensus from the forum was a resounding “no.” We have incredible stewards of the land who farm traditionally and do it exceptionally well.
However, if you are already using high-tech equipment, AI is a tool that can help you synthesize that data. Success in 2026 isn’t about having the flashiest software; it’s about focus:
- Focus on production efficiency.
- Focus on your customer.
- Find your “value-add” so your brand doesn’t just blend into the corporate crowd.
What’s Next?
As we head into day two at the Troy Fire Hall in Bradford County, the mission remains the same: keeping farmers farming, ranchers ranching, and lenders lending.
The “Future of Ag” isn’t just about algorithms; it’s about how we use those tools to support the people who keep rural America running. At First Citizens, we aren’t just watching these changes from the sidelines—we are right there with you, figuring out what’s next.
