Turning Raw Data into Actionable Early Warnings
With drought conditions lingering and pest pressures escalating across agricultural regions, growers are constantly managing risks that can make or break a crop year. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Jorge Celis, CEO of American Prime, to discuss how the agricultural intelligence company—working alongside Farm Bureau leaders—is cutting through complex data to help producers identify which fields need attention first, understand the root cause, and connect that insight directly to action in the field.
Celis emphasized that American Prime was built to eliminate the frustration of complicated, overwhelming dashboards. Following a severe drought several years ago, he noted that many producers were flooded with data but still received critical agronomic insights too late to protect their crops. American Prime was engineered as a practical, end-to-end platform where satellite technology spots hidden stress, AI warns operators, and autonomous equipment enables fast intervention.
While human vision only captures the visible color spectrum, American Prime’s satellite platform monitors infrared and short-wave infrared wavelengths to detect stress before it is visible from the field road. By analyzing how plant tissue reflects infrared and shortwave infrared light, the system can detect spectral patterns associated with changes in vegetation water content,helping identify emerging drought stress before visible symptoms appear. The platform also enables early pest detection—such as identifying early signs of armyworm infestations in Oklahoma—giving growers and consultants the ability to prioritize troubled sections across thousands of acres and take targeted action before widespread damage occurs.
Simplifying the Workflow: From AI Conversations to Drone Action
Rather than asking farmers to interpret complex charts, the platform leverages “Ben,” a conversational AI assistant designed to deliver straightforward answers about current field conditions.
Producers can connect existing machinery data, such as John Deere Operations Center, or speak directly into a smartphone or smartwatch while scouting. Ben logs voice notes, turns observations into clean documentation, assesses field conditions, and outlines practical recommendations that growers can review with their agronomy team.
For service providers and drone operators, the company introduced the AP Drones Hub to bridge the gap between intelligence and application. The hub streamlines mission planning, prevents chemical drift onto neighboring crops, and accounts for atmospheric variables like solar flare activity that can disrupt controller signals. It also automatically logs flight records to simplify FAA Part 137 compliance reporting.
Commercial Launch and Pre-Release Access
The platform is designed to scale across operations of all sizes, from independent family farms seeking quick daily answers to large-scale agronomy firms and commercial operations looking to optimize scouting routes and protect yields.
American Prime is preparing for a full commercial launch in November. An early version is currently accessible at intelligence.americanprime.co, where producers and consultants can test the system. Growers who sign up and provide feedback during the pre-launch phase will receive up to one year of free service once the full platform rolls out. Additional company information is available at americanprime.co.
American Prime is preparing for a full commercial launch in November. An early version is currently accessible at intelligence.americanprime.co, where producers and consultants can test the system. Growers who sign up and provide feedback during the pre-launch phase will receive up to one year of free service once the full platform rolls out. Additional company information is available at americanprime.co.
