Rethinking AI: From Task Tool to Thought Partner on theFarm

When most people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they picture it helping with repetitive tasks, writing emails, summarizing documents, or automating reminders. And sure, AI can do all of that.

However, focusing only on the task side of AI is like using a combine to mow your lawn.

The real opportunity is in strategy.

In our work at Hammond Realty, AI has become more than a tool for productivity. It’s a strategic thought partner, one that helps us think more clearly, explore blind spots and biases, and make better decisions, faster.

A Real-World Example: Thinking Bigger, Not Just Faster

We recently sat down with a young farm operation to talk about their long-term goals. What does success look like in 20 years? What lifestyle, values, legacy, and scale are they working toward?

We recorded the conversation, and afterward, we ran thetranscript through AI, not only to summarize it, but to challenge it. We asked AI: What might we be missing? What other strategies could align with this vision?

It delivered. The AI flagged ideas we hadn’t considered, highlighted priorities that deserved more focus, and proposed logical steps to bridge today’s reality with their future vision.

That’s when it hit me: this is exactly how farmers could be using AI.

Strategic Thinking on the Farm: Where AI Can Help

Every farm leader is already making complex decisions on land, capital, inputs, production, marketing, and planning. The difference is that now, you don’t have to do all the thinking alone.

What if your next big decision about land, leases, or crop planning had an extra mind in the room? One who asked smart questions, surfaced fresh angles, accounted for your biases, thought objectively, and worked with your numbers?

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Why Gen X Farmers Are Uniquely Positioned to Use AI Well

If you’re a Gen X farmer, you may not see yourself as an aggressive tech adopter, but you already have the two most important skills for using AI effectively: curiosity and context.You’ve spent decades making thoughtful decisions, asking the right questions, and weighing trade-offs. That strategic mindset is exactly what AI responds to. When you bring real-world experience into a conversation with AI, whether it’s about land, finance, or production, you’re not behind the curve. You’re leading it.

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Here are two simple prompts you can try right now:

Prompt 1: Land Purchase Decision
Should I buy the 1,280 acres I’ve been renting, or keep renting it?

“I’m a Saskatchewan grain farmer. I’ve been renting 1,280 acres for several years and now have the opportunity to buy it. I’m trying to decide whether to purchase it or continue renting. Ask me 5 clarifying questions, one at a time, to better understand my situation—then help me compare the long-term financial and operational impact of owning vs. renting this land.”

This prompt invites AI to:

• Ask about purchase price, rental rates, financial status, interest rates, expansion plans, and tax implications
• Weigh ownership equity vs. opportunity cost
• Help separate emotion from economics

Prompt 2: Production Data Strategy
What’s my data really telling me, and how do I use it to make better decisions?

“I’m a Saskatchewan grain farmer with 5 years of yield and input data. I want help spotting trends that could improve profitability. Ask me what data I have access to, what tools I’m using, and what my goals are—then suggest 3 strategic changes I could consider to improve input efficiency or crop performance over the next 3 years.”

This prompt sets AI up to:

• Identify which data layers are most useful (yield data, soil tests, fertilizer rates, moisture amounts, etc.)
• Surface trends and ROI differences by crop or field
• Recommend practical, data-backed next steps

The Mindset Shift: From Search Engine to Thought Partner

The biggest barrier isn’t the technology—it’s how we think about it.

Most people still see AI as a fancy search engine or a task-doer. But it’s not an upgraded Google. It’s also not here to replace your agronomist, your accountant, or your gut instinct.

It’s a tool that helps you think better, sharper, clearer, and with a broader lens.

Used properly, AI doesn't replace judgment. It amplifies it.

So, imagine this:

• What if you used AI not to write an email, but to shape your next five-year plan?

• What if it helped you uncover something in your numbers you didn’t notice before?

• What if it could push your thinking, not just your to-do list?

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Your Next Step: Try It for Yourself

Pick a decision you’ve been delaying.

Open a ChatGPT window.
Paste in one of the prompts above.
See what comes back.

It won’t be perfect, but it will push your thinking. And that’s where better decisions begin.

If you’d like to hear more about how we’re using AI in farmland strategy and how you might use it on your farm, we’re happy to share what we’re learning.

Let’s explore it together.