Precision Agriculture: Enhancing Farming Efficiency

3 Precision Agriculture Use Cases and Applications

When deployed correctly, precision farming solutions allow farmers to do more with less, maximizing yields and reducing waste. Here are some of the primary applications of precision agriculture today.

Telematics 

Precision agricultural installations have multiple mobile machines and vehicles, like tractors and drivable bins. These devices generate lots of data. Telematic solutions allow farmers to collect data from their dispersed machines and vehicles remotely.

Precision Positioning 

Self-driving tractors receive a lot of press. However, for those vehicles to operate autonomously, farmers must always know their location. The systems that help farmers obtain precision positioning data are based on connected technology.

Remote Environmental Monitoring 

Farmers need to understand the state and current condition of the land, including:

• Soil content
• Moisture levels
• Local meteorological conditions
• Groundwater access

Accessing real-time data remotely eliminates costly truck rolls to perform these analyses.

Supporting Precision Agriculture Technology with Cellular Connectivity

If you have a farm in North Dakota, a device with a cellular connection needs access to a cellular network to work. Even in remote areas, the coverage of cellular technology is becoming more predominant and available across the U.S. agricultural belt.

Connectivity costs, including for cellular devices and data plans, are decreasing, making precision farming more economical. Farmers also don’t have to worry about local infrastructure when leveraging cellular networks.

Although cellular connectivity is becoming more pervasive, there are still areas and situations where it isn’t available. Farmers are looking to other solutions like non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) in these cases.

6 Essential Considerations for Building Precision Agriculture Solutions  

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must consider several things when building precision agriculture solutions:

Connectivity

Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled agricultural equipment requires stable, always-on connectivity. The primary connectivity technology for these use cases is a cellular network.

Region of Deployment 

If an OEM implements cellular connectivity, it needs to know where its equipment will be deployed. Look for a provider with cellular connectivity solutions that support global deployments.

Power Consumption Considerations 

For remote monitoring, a cellular connectivity device needs a power supply that can withstand tough conditions for many years.

Precision Agriculture Implementation Expertise

Cellular devices are relatively simple to implement. However, because they incorporate radio frequency (RF) components (e.g., antenna switches and power amplifiers), they will require specialized engineering skills for successful implementation. Some equipment OEMs might not have the necessary expertise and must work with a partner.

Regulatory Considerations 

OEMs must plan for regulatory test costs and laboratory fees when integrating wireless components into precision agriculture products. These costs include obtaining certifications to operate on a cellular network.

Return on Investment (ROI) 

What is the cost of the technology, and does it satisfy ROI requirements? Beyond the upfront cost, there are recurring fees for cloud access and data plans.

OEMs must ensure that the business model supports the cost of connectivity. They can either factor these costs into the final product price or try to derive recurring revenue from the end user. Regardless, OEMs must have these business discussions with the customer from the start.

Build Your Smart Agricultural Solutions with a Proven IoT Leader  

Telit Cinterion has over 24 years of experience implementing wireless connectivity for customers, especially on cellular networks. Beyond components, we offer custom solutions with modules, connectivity plans, device management and platforms to manage your precision agriculture deployments. Moreover, Telit Cinterion customers have access to a robust partner network.

Speak to our IoT experts to discover how our solutions can enable your precision agriculture application while reducing the total cost of ownership.