Agricultural technology is quickly becoming more advanced and detailed, increasing the ability to gather data from various sources. One challenge facing researchers is gathering the data, finding ways to access it quickly and making valuable information available for growers, breeders and researchers alike.
NDSU ag technology program manager Aaron Reinholz sees the potential of such systems.
“Precision Agriculture technologies have been available and in use already for years, but advances in technology are enabling a far greater resolution in management practices,” Reinholz said. “Conceptually, one could envision managing each plant in a field individually. In practice, incremental steps are being made towards this concept through Internet of Things technologies and other precision management tools being developed for crop and livestock operations.”
“Integrating IoT technologies into agriculture is greatly enhancing efficiency and precision across the entire food production system,” said Frank Casey, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station associate director. “A growing array of connected devices — monitoring everything from plant health and soil conditions to livestock behavior — are becoming increasingly accessible and affordable. These tools range from simple solutions like tracking diesel fuel levels or monitoring remote cattle water tanks to advanced systems that detect subtle behavioral changes signaling animal health issues.
Source : ndsu.edu