Dairy Farming DX Starting with Commercial Cameras and AI, Driven by the Field

Dairy Farming DX with Commercial Cameras x Generative AI

The community "Metagri Research Institute" (operated by Noujoujin Co., Ltd.), which promotes "Agriculture x New Technology," will sequentially release a three-part interview series on the AI media for farmers "Nougyo AI Tsushin" starting July 1, 2026. The series will introduce the practices of Kawakami Farm (Shimane Prefecture), which is working to reduce the burden of nighttime barn checks by combining commercially available network cameras with AI.

Mr. Kawakami himself built a system that starts small with commercial cameras and a self-made system, without relying on expensive dedicated equipment. This system uses AI to determine signs of estrus and inability to stand during the night, notifying the farmer's smartphone only when attention is needed. The series will cover the background of the introduction, the system's mechanisms, and the results and challenges observed through its operation. It aims to provide hints for DX in primary industries facing labor shortages, not just in dairy farming, by starting with on-site issues.

[Background] The Structure of Agricultural Management is Changing Amidst a Declining Workforce

In agriculture, the decline and aging of the workforce continue.

According to the "2026 Agricultural Structure Dynamic Survey Results" released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on June 30, 2026, the number of core agricultural workers in individual management entities was 986,600, a 4.8% decrease from the previous year. The average age is 67.7 years. Meanwhile, while the total number of agricultural management entities decreased by 4.4% to 799,700, the number of corporate management entities increased by 2.4% to 34,600. Furthermore, the number of regular employees in agricultural management entities increased by 1.6% to 245,900, indicating a structural shift towards corporatization and employment-based management alongside the decrease in the workforce.

How can judgment and monitoring, traditionally performed by experienced individuals, be supported as a system while managing operations with a limited workforce? Expectations are growing in agricultural fields for labor-saving through smart agriculture and generative AI.

However, the cost of introducing dedicated equipment and the operational design after introduction can be hurdles, making it difficult to take the first step.

Amidst this situation, Kawakami Farm in Shimane Prefecture is creating examples of small improvements starting from immediate challenges by combining readily available commercial products with generative AI.

Transforming "On-site Monitoring" with Cameras x AI

In dairy farming, changes in cow conditions such as estrus, calving, and inability to stand occur day and night. Especially at night, it is necessary to check the barn to avoid missing any abnormalities, which affects the dairy farmer's rest time.

To alleviate the burden of nighttime barn checks, Kawakami Farm has begun operating a barn monitoring system that combines commercially available network cameras with generative AI.

The goal is not to completely delegate monitoring to generative AI. It is a shift from the traditional method of "going to the barn at fixed times" to "being notified by AI and checking when necessary."

Installation of Cameras

Features of the Barn Monitoring System Built by Kawakami Farm

Starting Small with Commercial Cameras: Three commercially available network cameras were installed in the barn. The verification started with low initial and operational costs, without assuming expensive dedicated equipment.

Limited Scope of AI Judgment: The judgment targets for generative AI are limited to "signs of estrus" and "signs of inability to stand" at night. Normal resting and feeding are excluded, clarifying the role assigned to generative AI.

Notifications Only When Necessary: Notifications are sent to the smartphone via Discord, along with the reason for the judgment, only when the generative AI determines a "cautionary situation." Limiting notifications reduces the burden of frequent checks.

Accumulating Judgment Results and Improving Operations: The judgment results from generative AI are automatically recorded, and humans verify their accuracy later. This process accumulates data specific to Kawakami Farm's environment and cow conditions, leading to improvements in judgment methods.

According to Mr. Kawakami, simplifying the routine midnight patrol to a notification-based system has led to securing more sleep time. Furthermore, there have been cases where subtle signs of estrus were detected early, allowing for timely insemination opportunities.

Kawakami Farm's Field

[Interview Articles] Barn Monitoring with "Camera x AI" Explored in 3 Parts

Nougyo AI Tsushin will introduce the background of Kawakami Farm's adoption of the barn monitoring system, its actual mechanisms, and the results and challenges observed through its operation in a three-part interview series.

Content of the 3-Part Series

[Part 1] Trying Small with Commercial Cameras x AI. ~ Implementation of the Barn AI Monitoring System Started by Kawakami Farm ~

Implementation of the Barn AI Monitoring System Started by Kawakami Farm

[Part 2] Achieved with Camera x AI x Discord Notifications! ~ The Mechanism of the Dairy AI Monitoring System ~

The Mechanism of the Dairy AI Monitoring System

[Part 3] Learnings from Field-Driven AI and the Potential for "Horizontal Expansion" Seen Through Small-Scale Trials ~ The Development of "Camera x AI" Revolutionizing Primary Industry Fields ~

The Development of "Camera x AI" Revolutionizing Primary Industry Fields

View Details

Producer Profile

Tetsuya Kawakami

Kawakami Farm (Shimane Prefecture)

Representative Tetsuya Kawakami is a dairy innovator managing Kawakami Farm in Shimane Prefecture. After graduating from the Animal Husbandry Department of Tottori Prefectural Agricultural College, he worked as a dairy farm helper before becoming a successor farmer upon marriage. He took over the management in 2016 and has been active in the dairy industry, receiving the Excellence Award at the All-Japan Zen-Noh Dairy Management Experience Presentation and representing Shimane Prefecture at the 42nd National Livestock Artificial Insemination Excellent Technique Presentation.

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/kawakamifarm

[About Nougyo AI Tsushin]

Nougyo AI Tsushin, with the concept of "Cultivating the Future of AI Utilization from Farmers' Experiences and Words," provides AI utilization procedures and practical examples in a "ready-to-use" format. It also incorporates insights born from the practices of farmers, including ambassadors, into the media, creating a cycle that delivers this knowledge to farmers nationwide who are about to embark on AI utilization.

Nougyo AI Tsushin

[About Metagri Research Institute]

Metagri Research Institute is a community dedicated to achieving sustainable agriculture under the keyword "Agriculture x New Technology." Launched in March 2022, it currently has over 1,300 participants as of July 2026. It is named "Research Institute" to signify the importance of taking on new social experiments without fear of failure.

We welcome participation from those interested in initiatives that combine generative AI, Web3, and the metaverse with agriculture.

Metagri Research Institute

Official Website: https://metagri-labo.com/ Event Seminars: https://metagrilabo.peatix.com/ Official SNS (X): https://x.com/metagrilabo/ Official SNS (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/metagrilabo/ Official Line: https://page.line.me/918tbanl

[About the Operating Company]

Noujoujin Co., Ltd.

Representative: Yuichiro Kai

Services Provided (Partial): - Agricultural Marketing Support

- Planning and Development of Agriculture x New Technology

- AI Consulting

- Book Publishing

URL: https://noujoujin.com/

mail: info@noujoujin.com