The precise management of water within a broadacre farm is critical in ensuring the health and productivity of crops. Fluctuations in soil moisture, health, and conditions can be detrimental, making continuous monitoring essential.
Connectivity technology, such as IoT, Wi-Fi, and 4G allow growers and agronomists access to real-time data analytics, allowing them to monitor water and soil moisture levels in real-time.
Real-time Water and Soil Moisture Data
On broadacre farms, where the quality of the crop directly correlates with the precision of water use, understanding the exact moisture content of the soil becomes crucial. It's a delicate balance; too little water can stress plants, reducing yield and quality, while too much can lead to root diseases and wasted resources.
Real-time monitoring systems utilise various sensors submerged in the soil or connected to water pipes and systems. These sensors continuously collect data on critical parameters. The collected data is then transmitted wirelessly to a central office where it is analysed.
Connectivity: The Essential Link
The effectiveness of real-time data is heavily reliant on connectivity. Communication technologies such as IoT, Wi-Fi, and 4G enable the data collected by sensors and digital ag tech to be seamlessly transmitted in real-time. Many of these digital technologies collecting this data require connectivity to work effectively, without a connection many simply do not work.
A fully connected broadacre operation allows this data to flow uninhibited in real-time providing a detailed picture of the moisture levels across the paddocks. In turn, this allows for the optimisation of irrigation schedules, ensuring water is applied in the right amount, at the right time, and in the right place. Plus, the optimisation of seeding, ensuring that seed is applied in the right place at the right time for dryland operations.
Automated Alerts and Controls
One of the significant advantages of real-time data is it unlocks the capability for remote monitoring. This gives growers and agronomists the ability to set up automated alerts and controls. When a parameter breaches its desired range, the system can send alerts via Wi-Fi or 4G to operators or even trigger automated systems to adjust conditions, such as activating the irrigation or adjusting water flow rates.
Benefits of Real-Time Data
- Enhanced Broadacre Efficiency. Optimal water usage reduces waste, conserving water resources and saving costs.
- Crop Yield and Quality Improvement. Proper irrigation enhances plant health, directly impacting crop quality and yield and therefore returns.
- Disease Prevention. By avoiding overwatering, the risk of root and leaf diseases is significantly lowered.
- Early Warning System. Real-time alerts enable quick response to potential issues, preventing larger problems.
- Data-Driven Decisions. Continuous data collection provides insights for better management and improvement strategies.
- Environmental Impact. Efficient water use helps in reducing the depletion of water resources, contributing to sustainable broadacre practices.
Challenges and Considerations
Reliable connectivity is a significant challenge for many broadacre farms as they often fall outside the footprint of mobile coverage, making real-time data collection challenging.
With advancements in connectivity technology such as portable coverage extenders, Satellite Wi-Fi, 4G, and Wi-Fi these challenges can be overcome, connecting remote and isolated broadacre operations. Connected Farms offers Wi-Fi, portable Wi-Fi, Static Wi-Fi, Private 4G Networks, and Satellite tailored options for broadacre businesses so you can connect your operation and unlock real-time data and remote monitoring plus more, such as make phone calls, use data, connect your staff!
Conclusion
By harnessing the power of connectivity and technology, broadacre farms can achieve higher efficiency, better yields, and sustainable practices. As technology continues to advance, the potential for further innovation in this field remains vast and promising.
Please reach out to the team for more information on the connectivity, Wi-Fi, 4G, and satellite solutions we have available for broadacre farms.
About Connected Farms
Connected Farms is dedicated to providing reliable and appropriate connectivity solutions to the agriculture sector. Located in Regional NSW, Regional South Canterbury NZ, and Regional Scotland UK our mission is to connect farmers, growers, agribusinesses, and fisheries to enable digital agriculture, enhancing productivity, safety, and sustainability in farming operations across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. For more information visit www.connectedfarms.co
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Abagael Higgs Feb 16, 2024
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