Spis treści:
Farming is one of humanity’s oldest activities. What began as gathering and simple mimicry of nature is now far different from the modern farms, where the machines of leading supercars models’ value and new management practices have revolutionized the pace at which we harvest food and produce animal products.
Agricultural automation – is it worth betting on it?
Countryside is becoming more and more innovative across the whole Europe. Common industry 4.0 and incoming industrial revolution, threads and tropes applies not only in the field of its name, but also includes the the agriculture economy sector. According to the European Union’s estimates, the global food production must double by 2050 in order to meet the needs resulting from the population growth. Agriculture is already facing not only the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, soil and water quality, and the demands of global markets, but also changing eating habits and progressive consumption. Its consequence is – what else – consumerism and unthinking attitude of constant consumption. Reducing surpluses that cannot be used or stored is truly an issue, and good practices on this field should be constantly developed.
More than agricultural machinery
One of the trends bringing us closer to sustainable consumption is eco consumption or green consumption. An environmentally oriented one, where food is produced in a way that does not disturb the ecological balance. Taking care of the environment while producing high quality food needs a whole range of factors and practices in terms of fertilizer or plant protection, but what we are interested in today is automation – relieving local farmers and breeders of often tedious work is something that allows us to focus more on the idea of sustainability.
In short: extra pairs of eyes and a clear view of the accompanying indicators, thanks to the solutions provided by the new technologies, means a deeper analysis of the important choices that are made, which are not lacking in agriculture at every turn. It’s worth taking the time to be competitive, comfortable, and environmentally responsible.
Sometimes everyone needs a little help
The harmony of agriculture to those unfamiliar with it is pure beauty. Farmers and breeders realize, however, that it is often an uneven fight with nature and not only with nature. Restructuring of the agricultural sector was an important issue in negotiations on Poland’s accession to the EU, it was assumed that large, highly specialized and commercially oriented farms would be created, which would lower the competitiveness of small ones. Apart from the general assumptions of financial and investment outlays, such as reconstruction, extension and modernization, everything got focused on specific fixed assets. These include all the machinery, technical equipment and tools.
And here’s a tidbit – Root AI, a Somerville-based startup developing the Virgo harvesting robot for greenhouses and farms. It was acquired by AppHarvest for $60 million. AppHarvest plans to invest about $10 million in cash. Virgo is a robot that can identify and harvest various fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Its tomato data set, for example, allows it to identify more than 50 varieties of a given fruit!
While this topic is most often viewed in the context of expensive machinery that is built to do its job at the manufacturer and arrives ready to go, we can improve our farm (whether tiny, backyard or home-based, or really big ones) with relatively small outlays and equipment on a much smaller scale.
Take a little peek inside
Monitoring what is happening on the farm is the most important component of optimization and efficiency. The monitoring phase should be carried out continuously and cover all stages of planning, growth and harvesting. Before spending tons of money it is worthwhile to first try out cheaper, demonstrative solutions that can give an idea of whether it is actually worthwhile to push the automation forward.
Farm monitoring – cameras and motion detectors
Efficient monitoring should cover for us with a watchful eye the house, the premises, utility rooms, warehouses, any livestock premises such as stables, pigsties, barns, chicken coops or sheepfolds – depending on our activities, as well as fish ponds, pastures and crops.
Cameras and DVRs are the first step to security. Viewing and recording alone, however, is often not enough, although recording is certainly useful in the case of incidents involving uninvited human guests, such as poachers at ponds. It is also necessary to ensure adequate power supply and sufficient Internet connection.
Then there are predators and other individuals that stray, for example. Or unattended flocks that love to make long trips far from their home or pasture. A sensor with an alarm instead of an electric fence are usually a bad idea because of the uncontrolled movement of animals, any of which can set off a false alarm. An electric fence also has an educational role. For pest prevention, it’s worth to try ultrasonic animal repellents. They’re completely safe and do not frighten other livestock or house pets.
Sensors, however, can prove themselves useful “spot-on” in important places. Proper monitoring of areas around the house or warehouses support for can be implemented with PIR motion sensors and/or microwave sensors – depending on the planned placement. It can even be located above the entrance to the poultry house, to be coupled with the alarm, for example, to inform the host of the arrival of the fox.
Controlling everything – all sensors
+ SENSECap series for agriculture
- Alarm sensors
- Pressure sensors
- Air purity sensors
- Sound sensors
- Gas sensors
- Light and color sensors
- Magnetic sensors
- Pressure sensors
- Reflective sensors
- Distance sensors
- Flow sensors
- Motion sensors
- Temperature sensors
- Temperature probes
- Humidity sensors
- Sensor kits
Bonus: IoF – Internet of Food and Farm
Sensors are helping farmers avoid over-irrigation and over-fertilization of nitrogen to increase yields and determine exactly how much is needed, according to a study by the CORDIS European R&D Information Database. In fact, sensors come in handy whenever something needs to be overfilled, filled or added – and to do it with laboratory precision.
The IoF 2020 wheat pilot project combines information gathered from sensors in the field with satellite data so that farmers know how much nitrogen and water their crops need. These are truly automated and comprehensive systems that combine multiple functionalities within a single, controllable system with clear process flows, data recording and control.
Some brand portals recommend to use the use of extensive electronics in conjunction with equipment such as sprayers and spreaders. This is no longer new to many agricultural entrepreneurs, but the possibilities are growing with the development of intelligent systems. This allows the operator to control everything from the tractor cab, such as the right amount of liquid per hectare. Such devices include a speed transducer, pressure transducer, flow meter or electro-valves.
W połączeniu z komputerem, który czuwa nad całym procesem regulując wspomnianą dawkę, otrzymujemy prawdziwie wielofunkcyjne urządzenie z praktycznie jednym kablem. Rolnictwo 4.0 jest coraz bliżej. A dlaczego jest to tak ważne? Trend IoT obejmuje już nie tylko miasta i firmy, ale także sprzęt AGD, dlaczego więc nie miałby zawitać także do rolnictwa w jego dużym i małym wydaniu? A wszystko, co popularne i trendy, szybko obfituje w soczystość nowych rozwiązań ułatwiających życie. Czekamy z niecierpliwością.
Weather stations
Ah, the weather. The topic of alternate conversations and those quite… on topic. There is still no method to control it – a bit like the wild boars bushwhacking in the corn and among the potatoes. However, it is possible to be informed in advance. Weather stations sound complicated, but they are easy to install and use devices that allow you to control such weather parameters as temperature, humidity or atmospheric pressure both outside and inside. Many of them are based on the use of components such as built-in thermometers and hygrometers. Advanced models offer, among others, graphic representation of the weather forecast or indication of the current moon phase. Worth trying.
Intelligent agriculture is now within reach. Thoughtful investment and innovative technological solutions are at the core of many of its branches-industries such as fruit, dairy, vegetables, meat, tillage and livestock. In the second episode we will take a look at even more specialized agricultural improvements – including the use of lidar and the innovative SENSECap sensor series.
