Ag Answers Fast

Late on a Friday evening, after a long day in the field, a farmer notices unfamiliar spots on a corn leaf. Instead of making a note to check later, the farmer snaps a photo, uploads it to Tilva, and receives research-based guidance in seconds.

Tilva™ is an artificial-intelligence-powered tool from Penn State Extension that provides around-the-clock, Pennsylvania-specific answers for farmers, agribusiness professionals, educators, and others. Powered by PlantVillage+, Penn State’s agricultural AI platform, the system draws from decades of science-based extension expertise to deliver reliable information.

“Penn State’s commitment to connecting farmers and agriculturalists across Pennsylvania with trusted research and expertise reflects the original vision of our land-grant universities,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said. “This AI tool helps accelerate innovation and strengthen Pennsylvania agriculture.”

Designed for time-constrained producers, Tilva enables users to ask questions or upload images for immediate support. Image recognition identifies pests, diseases, and plants. Users also can upload soil test results from Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory for interpretation. While built for production agriculture, the tool also serves businesses, policymakers, homeowners, and gardeners.

Tilva recommends relevant extension workshops, online courses, and certificate programs and connects users to trusted data sources, including the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and national market data. Answers are available in English and Spanish.

Jeffrey Hyde, director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences, said the tool expands extension’s reach by handling routine inquiries and connecting users to experts when needed.

“Our extension professionals stand ready to answer more detailed or nuanced questions,” Hyde said. “This allows our educators to focus on human interactions needed to solve complex problems.”

The technology behind Tilva is Plant Village+, developed under the leadership of David Hughes, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security in the college. What began as a mobile tool to help farmers diagnose crop problems has grown into a global agricultural AI platform used in dozens of countries.

Behind Tilva’s responses is oversight from more than 260 extension educators across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. High-risk topics—such as pesticide use, food preservation, and animal medication—trigger safeguards that direct users to extension educators, Penn State faculty, veterinarians, or regulatory officials.

Industry stakeholders helped test and refine the tool. Andy Bater, a fourth-generation farmer, digital engineer, and member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, described Tilva as “a cornerstone for the future of agriculture,” noting that it delivers precise answers grounded in Penn State research.

Justin Clapper, assistant director of development and sponsorship for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and a member of the Penn State Ag Council, said he was impressed by the system’s breadth and knowledge.

“It provided accurate results, resources for me to research and learn further, and the contact information of local extension staff for further help,” Clapper said.

Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, emphasized that Tilva was built with a focus on delivering accurate, relevant information to stakeholders. “With Tilva, our north star from the beginning is to preserve the more than 100-year trust relationship between citizens of the commonwealth and Penn State Extension,” Ott said.

Future development will focus on added personalization and quality control, with user feedback helping refine responses.

For Hughes, the vision is long-term. As climate, disease, economic, and market pressures complicate food production, he noted, land-grant universities must deliver trusted knowledge in real time.

“When you combine people-centered, science-based information with AI solutions, Tilva has a bright future,” he said.

Contributing to the project are PlantVillage+ AI engineers Derek Morr and Pete McCloskey and Bipana Paudel Timilsena, assistant research professor of entomology in the college.

—Alexandra McLaughlin