Agriculture supplied $1.053 trillion of US gross domestic product in 2017.
That would make the US agriculture industry the 16th largest economy in the world, sandwiched between Indonesia and Mexico
It’s also been estimated that, with industrial farming, the average US farmer feeds 155 people.
Even with these massive contributions to the economy and feeding rising populations around the world, agriculture has still only scratched its surface and stands to provide loads more value to an ever-more demanding global population.
The Green Revolution relied on intensive—and highly unsustainable—use of water and fossil-fuels to supply crop yields to feed the masses. But now we have ways to achieve even higher yields while also dramatically reducing environmental impacts and operational inefficiencies.
We have better ways to target applications of fertilizers and pesticides by using tractors with embedded sensors and GPS…
…better ways of tracking soil quality so we can be more efficient about where we grow, what we grow, and how we grow…
…better weather forecasting to optimize water usage that could save up to 50 billion gallons of water per year.
These benefits are made possible only through internet of things (IoT) data solutions for agriculture.
The Challenge
By 2050, farmers will need to feed two billion more people. Nine billion total. How will they do this without overwhelming the planet?
The Solution
In a few words, farmers and agricultural professionals must have access to more data and need to be able to use that data to optimize processes for monitoring equipment, keeping track of soil quality, and predicting and preparing for extreme weather conditions.
And that’s where RAN Wireless can help you. Using our IoT data solutions for agriculture, we’ll help you build a network for more efficient, sustainable farming operations.
You’ll be able to do the following:
Monitor Equipment Status and Maximize Machine Uptime
Break-fix service models waste money and create unnecessary machine downtime. They’re reactive, and they don’t work.
With smart sensors embedded in your tractors and equipment, you’ll be able to use data to repair equipment before it fails. This is proactive, and it works.
Not only will your operation be more efficient, you’ll be able to manage your agricultural holding on a computer or mobile device. The system collects data from your sensors and makes use of it through field mapping.
Understand Soil Quality—Know When and How Much to Irrigate
Stick sensors in the ground that monitor soil conditions and you’ll be able to collect data about rainfall and temperature over time and track trends to predict your irrigation needs.
You’ll be able to better control water usage for optimal plant growth and figure out the best time to plant and harvest.
Crops should also be planted and grown at their ideal temperature. Sensors can also monitor underground temperature levels and send the optimal reading to your mobile device.
Better Prepare for Weather Conditions
Extreme weather is the cause of 90% of crop losses in the US—events like extreme cold, hurricanes and wildfires.
Weather stations with smart sensors collect weather data you can analyze using IoT software to more accurately predict crop needs. This can help cut costs, produce higher crop yields, and prevent over or underwatering.
You can collect the following data for all your fields, no matter their proximity. This data is then sent to your smartphone or other connected device.
- Rainfall: see how much rain has fallen during a set period
- Temperature: track temperature changes over a day, week, month, or longer
- Wind speed and direction: wind metrics let you predict incoming storms more accurately
- Air pressure: another indicator of upcoming weather (such as a thunderstorm) in your area
- Humidity: this helps you make decisions about pending rain and water usage
With IoT data solutions for agriculture, you’re going to generate a vast quantity of data. But that’s useless if you don’t know what to do with it.
That’s why we’re going to show you exactly how maximize the insight you get from your data to improve your efforts, and be there every step of the way.
Learn How RAN Wireless Can Help You Achieve These Benefits and More Today.
Urban municipalities will become more aware of the possibilities of IoT data solutions for smart cities in the years ahead. If you want to join the group who’ll lead the charge in creating a more sustainable urban world, then reach out to RAN Wireless today.
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