A method for operating a detasseler machine, the detasseler machine including a plurality of actuators (211, 213, 215, 217, 219) for controllably adjusting each of a plurality of machine operating parameters, the method comprising: capturing front-facing image data by a front-facing camera positioned on the detasseler machine with a field of view in front of the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in a crop field; periodically determining a set of machine operating parameters for the detasseling machine corresponding to a set of crop parameters indicated by the front-facing image data; and generating control signals to one or more actuators (211, 213, 215, 217, 219) of the plurality of actuators (211, 213, 215, 217, 219), wherein the control signals are configured to operate the detasseler machine according to the determined set of machine operating parameters, characterized in that periodically determining the set of machine operating parameters includes applying an artificial neural network configured to generate as output the set of machine operating parameters corresponding to the front-facing image data; and further comprising: capturing rear-facing image data by a rear-facing camera positioned on the detasseler machine with a field of view behind the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in the crop field; applying image processing to quantify a metric indicative of missed tassels left behind by the detasseler machine; adjusting one or more machine operating parameters output by the artificial neural network to cause the metric indicative of missed tassels to decrease; and retraining the artificial neural network to correlate the adjusted machine operating parameters with the set of crop parameters provided as the input. capturing front-facing image data by a front-facing camera positioned on the detasseler machine with a field of view in front of the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in a crop field; periodically determining a set of machine operating parameters for the detasseling machine corresponding to a set of crop parameters indicated by the front-facing image data; and generating control signals to one or more actuators (211, 213, 215, 217, 219) of the plurality of actuators (211, 213, 215, 217, 219), wherein the control signals are configured to operate the detasseler machine according to the determined set of machine operating parameters, characterized in that periodically determining the set of machine operating parameters includes applying an artificial neural network configured to generate as output the set of machine operating parameters corresponding to the front-facing image data; and capturing rear-facing image data by a rear-facing camera positioned on the detasseler machine with a field of view behind the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in the crop field; applying image processing to quantify a metric indicative of missed tassels left behind by the detasseler machine; adjusting one or more machine operating parameters output by the artificial neural network to cause the metric indicative of missed tassels to decrease; and retraining the artificial neural network to correlate the adjusted machine operating parameters with the set of crop parameters provided as the input.