Podcast Summary: New York Farm Bureau News Bytes

Episode #6: Interview with Maureen Ballatori on AI and Agriculture
Release Date: October 8, 2025
Host: New York Farm Bureau
Guest: Maureen Ballatori, Founder of Agency 29
Location: New York Kitchen, Canandaigua, NY

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the practical applications and implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture, with guest Maureen Ballatori, founder of Agency 29. Drawing on her rural roots and professional experience, Maureen discusses AI's role, the importance of rural values in her agency, addressing AI fears among farmers, and previews her keynote at the upcoming New York Farm Bureau State Convention.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maureen Ballatori’s Background and Agency 29’s Focus

• Origin Story
  • Maureen, raised on a dairy farm in central New York, describes herself as “New Yorker, ride or die, upstate for life.”
  • She didn’t expect to remain in agriculture but found passion and connection with the people of the industry.
  • Quote: “I found a real passion and connection for the people of agriculture, which is what my agency focuses on.” (00:40)
• About Agency 29
  • Agency 29 is a creative agency tailored specifically to food, beverage, and agriculture brands.
  • They handle strategy, identity, and marketing for clients in these sectors.
  • They work with broad clients, including large institutions like Cornell University, on projects that support the broader agribusiness community.
  • Quote: “We are a creative agency for food, beverage and agriculture brands specifically… We do strategy, identity and marketing.” (01:13)

2. Farmer Values at the Core

• Emphasis on the inherently collaborative, trustworthy, and community-based values of agriculture.
• Agency 29 integrates these values into all aspects, from client selection to hiring decisions.
• Quote: “There is a collaborative nature that farmers have and people who are connected to ag that I just really love… It is the values that come through in how people of agriculture conduct themselves that is really special.” (01:35)

3. Importance of Grassroots Engagement

• Value of the New York Farm Bureau Convention: farmers are present and actively engaged in shaping policies and discussions.
• Contrast with other agri-tech events where farmers are absent; NY Farm Bureau allows direct lines of communication.
• Quote: “The farmer is not only in the room, but they are the ones at the table.” (02:49)

4. Staying Current with Ag Trends

• Maureen describes following ag trends as “a true hobby” and insists on "keeping my ear to the ground" by talking to farmers and attending industry events.
• She finds joy in learning and contributing to conversations both locally and nationally.
• Quote: “We really pride ourselves on being in the room where those [trend] discussions are happening.” (04:29)

Deep Dive: Artificial Intelligence and Agriculture

5. Why AI is a Hot Topic for Farmers

• AI is gaining attention for its potential to transform farm operations but also induces fear due to the unknown.
• Common concerns mentioned: job loss, technological overreach, and fear of the unknown.
• Maureen stresses that AI should be viewed not as a replacement, but as a tool to augment and improve farm productivity.
• Quote: “Artificial intelligence is a tool that can be used to help anybody, including farmers, do more, do better, you know, improve various workflows…if you understand how to use those tools in the right way.” (05:39)

6. Making AI Approachable: The "Learning to Ride a Bike" Analogy

• Maureen compares adopting AI to learning to ride a bike: initially daunting but ultimately empowering once you start.
• She hopes her keynote will help farmers move past fear and see AI as accessible and beneficial.
• Quote: “The way through that fear is just getting started…my goal for this keynote is to help alleviate some of that fear, help people understand how they can start to leverage these tools…” (06:54)
• She points out that “just understanding how to get started and use it in a way that is non-threatening so that they can get on the bike” is key. (07:51)

7. Facing Rapid Change—How To Keep Up

• Two mindsets: avoidance due to fear vs. proactive gradual learning.
• Maureen recommends starting now to become familiar and not be left behind as technology advances.
• Analogizes AI adoption to early attitudes about the Internet—initially intimidating, now indispensable.
• Quote: “If we also think about it going back to the introduction of the Internet…it was something that was really scary... and we use it all the time.” (08:16 - 09:36)

8. “Teach the Teacher” & Social Learning

• Encourages collaborative learning—farmers teaching each other to reduce fear and accelerate adoption.
• Quote: “Maybe it makes it a little less scary if people are talking to each other about it and sharing tips as they go.” (09:43 - 09:51)

9. Everyday Examples: AI Already in Use

• Many are using AI without realizing: predictive text, book/music recommendations on platforms like Goodreads and Amazon.
• AI is already “permeating our lives” in subtle, positive ways.
• Quote: “Predictive text is leveraging AI… making recommendations about what the next word might be... Goodreads... Amazon... are leveraging AI to make recommendations about something else that you might enjoy.” (09:58 - 10:45)

10. Demystifying AI: Not a Scary Monster

• Dispels the myth of AI as a threat, likening it to “Monsters, Inc.”—“big scary monsters are actually really soft at heart.”
• Quote: “I want to help people think of like, if you, if you think of Monsters, Inc…. those big scary monsters are actually really soft at heart.” (10:48)

11. Key Takeaways and Cautions

• AI is a tool, not a panacea—best used in combination with human judgment.
• Warns that AI can generate misinformation if unchecked; recommends using it as an assistant rather than sole content creator.
• Practical caution about using AI for content generation: always review and edit.
• Quote: “AI can… take a little nugget of information and grow it into something that isn’t true… as long as we’re aware of the current shortcomings… and humans are still using their brains… it can be really useful.” (11:13)

12. The Growing Value of Human Connection

• AI’s rise will increase—not replace—the need for authentic human connection.
• The ag community’s collaborative spirit will be even more crucial moving forward.
• Quote: “Human connection is going to continue to become that much more important as AI continues to permeate our lives.” (12:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “New Yorker, ride or die upstate for life.” – Maureen Ballatori (00:40)
• “The farmer is not only in the room, but they are the ones at the table.” (02:49)
• “Artificial intelligence is a tool… if you understand how to use those tools in the right way.” (05:39)
• "The way through that fear is just getting started. …So they can get on the bike." (06:54 - 07:51)
• “If we also think about it going back to... the introduction of the Internet...” (08:16 - 09:36)
• “Predictive text… Goodreads… Amazon… These are some examples of how AI is already permeating our lives.” (09:58 - 10:45)
• "AI is a tool. It is not the end all, be all solution to every problem." (11:13)
• “Human connection is going to continue to become that much more important as AI continues to permeate our lives…” (12:26)

Key Timestamps

• 00:40: Maureen’s rural roots and agency’s focus
• 01:35: Farmer values at the core of Agency 29
• 02:49: Distinguishing the NY Farm Bureau convention from other ag conferences
• 04:29: Keeping up with trends—learning from farmers
• 05:39: Why AI matters in agriculture
• 06:54: Overcoming AI fears; bike analogy
• 08:16: Long-term perspective on AI—comparison to the Internet
• 09:58: Everyday examples of AI in action
• 11:13: Main takeaway—AI as a tool, not a replacement for human involvement
• 12:26: The enduring value of human connection in agriculture

Conclusion

In a candid and warmly pragmatic conversation, Maureen Ballatori advocates for demystifying AI and embracing it as a practical, supportive tool for farmers—without losing sight of the irreplaceable power of community and human connection in agriculture. She encourages farmers to start small, learn together, and recognize AI’s growing presence—not as a threat, but as a means to strengthen their work and relationships. She’ll delve deeper into these ideas at her keynote on December 3rd at the NYFB State Convention.