Written by Andrew Wooden
UK operator VMO2 has launched a trial with Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley, throwing out some ideas of how connectivity could improve rural agriculture in the future.
Connecting up the entire 126-acre estate to wipe out historic blackspots and not-spots allowed the distribution of a network of sensors and monitors around the farm, which laid the ground work for some tests of teched-up farming concepts such as monitoring soil conditions, machinery, livestock, and land boundaries.
Trackers, sensors and switches have been installed across equipment, livestock and gates enabling farmers to monitor in real time the location of these high-value items or receive alerts about gates being left open. Equipment and livestock theft apparently cost the agriculture industry £49.5 million last year, and this means alerts can be sent instantly if equipment moves unexpectedly or leaves the farm.
Connected soil moisture, atmospheric temperature and humidity sensors can monitor the health of crops and assess irrigation needs, reduce water use, improve crop quality and allow for targeted interventions based on real-time conditions, all of which is supposed to help mitigate damage floods and droughts have on crop viability and yield.
