Farmdeck’s AI and ML IoT solutions

The introduction of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) within the agtech and IoT space brings a whole new dynamic to smart farming, allowing for automation of tasks, a greater understanding of the data derived from IoT sensors and in-depth insight of farmers’ property, livestock and operations.

With the cost of labour on the rise, climate change impact on crop yields, the introduction of new pests, and the need to adopt an eco-friendlier approach in farming methods, more farmers are turning towards implementing technology, like robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), into their farm’s everyday operations.

Through the combination of this technology, farmers can address numerous concerns, automate tasks and gain a deeper understanding of their farms, livestock and land requirements.

Resident Farmdeck expert and farmer, Shervin Fathinia explains that one of the major barriers to this kind of technology adoption is low to no connectivity issues, experienced especially on rural farms. Having IoT sensors installed on a farm is a great way to create a seamless and efficient farm management experience, but its success depends in part on the connectivity available on the property. “This is why, even in the remotest areas, Farmdeck uses numerous connectivity options, like the LoraWan gateway tower, to get farmers connected,” he says. Farmdeck’s team are experts in deploying solutions in remote areas with low connectivity and limited power options.

Once connected, Farmdeck’s IoT sensors are extremely beneficial. “From my own personal experience,” explains Fathinia, “Farmdeck sensors notify me when my tank water level has dropped so that I know then that my tanks need filling. It also has the capability to take this a step further and when the tanks level drops a certain amount, it automatically turns the pump on to fill up the tank, and then switches off once it’s hit a certain level. This means that no more water runs are needed and that cattle don’t have to suffer going without water as the tanks will always be full.”

He adds: “The great thing is where Farmdeck is currently headed – in the predicting actions/data space.” By incorporating ML and AI, Farmdeck’s IoT solutions will be more advanced and allow farmers greater freedom to focus on other areas of their farm. “For example, if farmers have Farmdeck’s soil moisture solution, and Farmdeck’s data indicates that soil moisture is low in a specific area, it can automatically trigger the irrigation system. However, if rain is also predicted, our solution will be aware of this and not turn the irrigation system on. If the weather forecast is wrong and there was no rain at the specified time, then the irrigation system will turn on,” says Fathinia.