I Built a Farming AI Tool. My Stepsons Are the Reason Why.

My stepsons farm with their grandfather.

He's not just their grandfather, he's their mentor. He's the one that showed them what is possible when you work hard and try to make the best decisions you can. He showed them what it means to wake up before the sun, put in a full day of physical work, and take pride in what comes out of the ground. He's handing down something that can't be googled. That kind of work ethic, that connection to the land, that's rare. And I don't take it for granted.

But here's what I kept thinking about: what happens when they're ready to take the business side seriously?

Running a tractor and combine is very different than managing the commodities market. Although I can do neither.

Being from Iowa, I completely understand that farming isn't just physical work, it's one of the most complex commodity businesses on the planet. You're making financial decisions based on futures markets, USDA reports, weather patterns, local basis levels, and dozens of other signals that move constantly. And most farmers are making those decisions with a gut feel and a radio station.

I didn't want that for them.

I wanted them to have the tools to compete, not just as farmers, but as operators. I wanted them to learn about technology and how it can benefit their business. I wanted them to have access to the same information seasoned farmers did.

I wanted them to have a co-pilot, not a coin flip.

So I built one.

Crop Yield AI is an AI-powered selling signals platform built for corn and soybean farmers. It pulls real-time futures prices, USDA market intelligence, and weather alerts tied to your actual fields, not some regional average. The AI synthesizes all of it and tells you whether the signal is to sell or hold, and how confident it is in that call.

It's not a dashboard you log into and stare at. It's a tool that actively watches the market for you and tells you what it sees. You can set up price alerts to never miss your target sell or when you drop below break even.

I built it for Iowa farmers first. My stepsons' farm in Iowa. That's not a coincidence.

The goal was never to replace their grandfather's wisdom. The goal was to make sure that when they're ready to run the business side of this operation, they have every advantage available, and they're not flying blind.

That's what good tools do. They give the next generation a running start.

Crop Yield AI is launching Spring 2026. If you farm corn or soybeans and want early access, join the waitlist at davidpedelty.com