How Sensors and Software Turn Farms Into Data Mines

Nerval's Lobster writes that business intelligence tools have come to agribusiness, with farmers and cattle ranchers using many of the same tools found in numerous corporate cubicles, but fed by sensors you won't find in cubeland. "Machines (such as this one from DeLaval) keep track of all kinds of data about each cow, including the chemical properties of its milk, and flag when a particular cow is having problems or could be sick. The software can compare current data with historical patterns for the entire herd, and relate to weather conditions and other seasonal variations. Now a farmer can track his herd on his iPad without having to get out of bed, or even from another state. And Farmeron attempts to aggregate all farm-related data in a single Web portal. The company was started by Matija Kopi, the CEO who calls himself the 'Main Cowboy in the Saddle' and Marko Dukmeni, the CTO who is their Chief Tractor Hacker. They offer monthly accounts (starting at 25 cents per animal per month) to track animal physical characteristics along with milk production, medical treatments, and even particular feeding group schedules."

Comments

ROI? and First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

How much is this going to cost? (I don't think the "25 cents per animal per month" is a total cost, but I'd guess that that's just the monitoring fee.)

Everything I see is hundreds of dollars per plant/animal monitored.

Yes, probes can probably be used for years. However, if the per-monitored cost would come down, data on this stuff could go crazy.

I'm not just being theoretical. I just bought a small farm a few weeks ago and want to do this very thing.

Being an opensource kind of guy, I'd rather do it myself, anyway.

Don't worry, cube drones!

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

The fact that business intelligence tools are also well suited to monitoring dumb animals dedicated to a life of exploitation and eventual slaughter is just one of those crazy coincidences, and has no deeper implications.

Living in the middle of Illinois...

[mcgrew]

There are a lot of TV ads for farm equipment, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. There's also a farm show early Sunday morning that's often quite interesting. Modern farms are tech marvels using smart phones, GPS, all sorts of mechanical wizardry.

It ain't a mule and a plow no more.

Re:Living in the middle of Illinois...

[PlusFiveTroll]

Farming was high-tech in the 80's when I still lived on one. GPS and computer controls were being implemented that far back. These days it's pretty amazing. Things like fertilizer being dispensed based on a GPS map of the soil. The farmer just fills the machine and drives.

Family farms really don't exist any more, it's mostly large commercial entities farming huge areas or gigantic CAFOs.

Farmers don't need iPads

[girlintraining]

Farmers don't need iPads. They need to have the government stop screwing up the markets and inadvertently creating monopolies like Monsanto. They created genetically altered seeds that, when they blow into neighboring fields, they sue those farmers, forcing them into bankrupcy, and thus getting a cheap new addition to their mega farm.

The other problems caused by government is they're endangering the food supply -- look it up online, we're about one drought away from a food shortage right now, the corn supply is down to about 6 months now, the lowest its been since the 50s. Part of it is because 40% of our corn gets turned into ethanol (a non-viable alternative to gas, used presently as an additive, at a premium), instead of food. Part of it is because the mega farms don't do proper crop rotation, but instead follow the market -- leading to diminishing yields and land overuse. And part of it is, ironically -- subsidies. The government steps in and says that there are certain price floors and ceilings for farming... and since eventually every farmer has a bad harvest, and they can't pay their mortage or whatever, they go bankrupt. It's inevitable; Just a matter of time. And then their land is bought up by the next door mega farm.

The consolidation of the agricultural industry is going to screw us; and iPads are not going to help. Not in the slightest. What's even more funny... not many younger people want to work on a farm. A lot of family farms are closing up because the kids moved away. Not much money in it... So you're asking people in their 50s and 60s "Hey, wanna use an iPad to do something you've been doing for the past, uhh... forever?" No. They don't. They're worried about making the next mortgage payment and repairing the roof of the barn. an iPad is not high on the list, and it offers no real benefit in productivity or return on investment. It's a convenience, nothing more.

Re:Farmers don't need iPads

[Nemesisghost]

Farmers don't need iPads. They need to have the government stop screwing up the markets and inadvertently creating monopolies like Monsanto. They created genetically altered seeds that, when they blow into neighboring fields, they sue those farmers, forcing them into bankrupcy, and thus getting a cheap new addition to their mega farm.

The other problems caused by government is they're endangering the food supply -- look it up online, we're about one drought away from a food shortage right now, the corn supply is down to about 6 months now, the lowest its been since the 50s. Part of it is because 40% of our corn gets turned into ethanol (a non-viable alternative to gas, used presently as an additive, at a premium), instead of food. Part of it is because the mega farms don't do proper crop rotation, but instead follow the market -- leading to diminishing yields and land overuse. And part of it is, ironically -- subsidies. The government steps in and says that there are certain price floors and ceilings for farming... and since eventually every farmer has a bad harvest, and they can't pay their mortage or whatever, they go bankrupt. It's inevitable; Just a matter of time. And then their land is bought up by the next door mega farm.

The consolidation of the agricultural industry is going to screw us; and iPads are not going to help. Not in the slightest. What's even more funny... not many younger people want to work on a farm. A lot of family farms are closing up because the kids moved away. Not much money in it... So you're asking people in their 50s and 60s "Hey, wanna use an iPad to do something you've been doing for the past, uhh... forever?" No. They don't. They're worried about making the next mortgage payment and repairing the roof of the barn. an iPad is not high on the list, and it offers no real benefit in productivity or return on investment. It's a convenience, nothing more.

I'll give a bit of background so you'll understand where I get my info. I currently work for a company that underwrites the USDA's Federal Crop Insurance as a software developer. We don't sell this insurance, but contract with various insurance agents around the country who do. The way that this program works is we underwrite the insurance, and assign a % premium and risk to the USDA, the rest is ours. Farmers do not have to purchase crop insurance, but if they do not they won't qualify for certain disaster relief. My particular job has included working on software that maps a farmer's fields and allows him/her & their agent to report what is planted on each field.

Wow, where to begin. I guess I'll start with how farmers don't want this iPad stuff. This is one area where I know for a fact that you are wrong. Yes, the older farmers aren't nearly as interested in it as your average teenager. But that does not mean that they don't appreciate what it can and does do for their farming operation. The older generation of life long farmers who own their land usually aren't the ones farming it. Most of the fields we insure are multi-shareholder setups. Basically, a "farmer" leases a field from a landholder for a % of the profits. These younger farmers who are leasing the land are the ones who are using this new tech. We've seen a large demand for the ability to use this precision farming information when reporting what was planted. Farmers are demanding more & more tech in their farming operations. Yes, the older generation who now mostly lease their land don't have any need for it, but the younger generation loves it.

Next, Monsanto's "wind blown" lawsuit was in Canada. I say that because I'm assuming that by "government" you mean the US government, although all governments create some sort of monopolies. Their other lawsuits were clearer cases of infringement, either by resellers knowingly selling gen-mod grown seed or farmers reusing grown seed instead of disposing/selling like they contracted to do. While I don't agree with what they patented or how they've c

Re:Farmers don't need iPads

[PlusFiveTroll]

I'm not sure where you're from, but where I was raised in Iowa farming operations have been technologically integrated for quite some time. There are two kinds of farms, the kind of farm that became technologically integrated and bought up everybody around them, and the farm that went out of business (to be fair there is a third kind, where they grew a non-typical crop for local sale at a higher price). A small farm is inefficient, the machine costs eat away any profits. A large farm is expensive, but the huge equipment costs can be spread over 10's of thousands of acres. Remote sensing stations can back temperature, soil moisture and rainfall levels so you can plow and plant at the optimal time. Disease and pest monitoring maps can show you when and where to spray. All these together give you an estimate of your yields.

You are right, the family farm is going (has gone) away, but not for the reason you've listed. Government influence or not huge farms are more efficient allowing lower cost per bushel. I postulate that subsidies have kept smaller grain farms around for far longer then without. If your crop fails the government currently pays you for it. The government fixes the price of corn and soy, keeping the biggest farms from dropping the price below affordability.

Re:Farmers don't need iPads

[weiserfireman]

For farmers in my area, there are lots of young people who want to work in agriculture, but when the time comes, they don't have the Capital.

Farm prices are good, but the expense of land, irrigation equipment, tractors, planters, harvesters, make it an extremely Capital intensive kind of business.

A family farm might make enough money to employ the owner and one child. When the owner dies, they have to make the decision, do I pass the entire farm to the one child working it, or do I try and be fair and give all of the kids a share. Too many farmers try to share the property among all the kids. Then the non-farmers want the one kid who wanted to farm it buy them out, or they sell it to strangers for a quick buck.

Irrigated farmland in my area can cost $4000-$6000 per acre. 200 acre farm can be worth over $1,000,000 in land alone. Now add another million in equipment, that is a huge inheritance.

Now look at a 25 yo, who grew up on a farm/ranch. Went to College and got a degree in Agribusiness. They want to have a farm of their own, Dad is at least 10 years (or more from retiring). They are going to need $2-3 million in start up capital to buy their own farm and go into business. 20% down is at least $400k. Say they roll it into a 30 year mortgage, and they found a bank willing to front them. Most banks aren't willing to loan that kind of money to 25 year olds, but lets pretend they do get it.

Lets say they got a good deal and got 200 acres of irrigated farm land. Had the 20% down, so they financed $1.5 million, went cheap on some of the equipment and operational costs.

1st year, they are going to go no till on a center pivot irrigation system. Yield 180 bushels/acre. This year, they do good with Corn, Gross sales price is around $7.50 per bushel. Gross Sales $270,000. Costs are around $500-$600 per acre, not counting the mortgage, lets use $110,000. So this year, with good prices, he is going to clear $160,000. First year mortgage payments are about 52k at 5%, So we have an income of about $108k. Pretty nice.

2nd year, Oops can't print Corn this year. Have to let it rest, to simplify we are going to assume a 2 crop rotation with Wheat. Real crop rotation would be more complicated

So 2nd year, we plant Wheat. Costs are lower, maybe $400 per acre. Yields are lower at 70 bushel per acre, but sales price is better at $8 per bushel, so we get a 2nd year Gross of $112,000. Costs are $80,000, net is $32,000, but now we add in 2nd year mortgage payment of $50,000 and we have lost $18,000 this year.

So 2 year income is $90,000 or $45,000 per year. Not a great income when you are sitting on a $2,000,000 investment.

This is with really great crop prices right now. This is why you don't see young people buying farms anymore.

Automatic Milking Systems

[Compaqt]

Anybody have any experience with those?

I'm talking about the ones where the cow gets up and walks by herself to the (robotic) milking machine. The machine throws water on the udder to clean it, and then positions the suckling cups on the teats.

The cow can (and does) go for milking as many times per day as she wants, as opposed to the normal 2 times per day, every 12 hours.

Anyway, what's the cost of these things? Cost of maintenance per year? Do they have ongoing problems?

Also, any different between the major makers? Delaval, Lely, GEA?

Re:Automatic Milking Systems

[girlintraining]

Anyway, what's the cost of these things?

Like most farm equipment, not cheap, especially new. Think loan. Big. Loan. I know you're looking for a more exact number, but there isn't one. They're usually custom built systems; sold one at a time. The larger the capacity, the lower the individual component cost.

Cost of maintenance per year? Do they have ongoing problems?

Like any customized solution, the answer is "it depends". It depends on how big the herd is, how many stations it has, etc. And as far as ongoing problems... well, it's automated. It makes the job easier, but you still have to watch it. You can't just set one up and walk away. These are live animals. Sometimes they do things that aren't predictable.

Also, any different between the major makers? Delaval, Lely, GEA?

Same as the difference between a Dell and a Compaq. Some of the parts are interchangeable, some aren't. Some pride themselves on service, some on cost. Some cater to very large farms, others to medium sized. Some have blue hoses, and others clear. Farm equipment is purpose built... tell me about the purpose, and I can tell you what equipment would be best. Like, for example, you'll notice I didn't say automatic milking machines cater to small farms. That would be because the equipment costs more than the savings in labor. A lot more.

This is horrible

[houghi]

They handle the cattle like office workers

Agriculture department had first microcomputer lab

[perpenso]

Historically farms have usually been hi tech to a degree. The exceptions seem to be more related to economic/social collapse than a lack of interest.

In the early 80s I remember a bunch of Apple //e computers being delivered to a local university. They were for the agriculture department. They may have had the first microcomputer lab on campus. The computer science labs were dumb terminals connecting to the minis and mainframes via a serial port.

Healthier cows = less suffering?

[vhfer]

I worked on the project that was eventually bought out by De Laval. It was originally called HerdStar. I kid you not. Never got sued by the maker of the dominant word processing software of the day. That statement should pretty well pin this down in time, and if not, this will: The first several generations were written in Fortran for the 8080 machines widely available at the time. Certain stuff they wanted to work faster or differently than Fortran could offer, I wrote for them in 8080 assembly.

One thing the dairymen told me was that one of the first signs of an animal getting sick was that it would usually eat less. Our system at the time each animal had a collar with a transponder on it-- an unpowered device about the size of two decks of cards. Something like a very primitive RFID chip. How much each animal ate was recorded and any unusual patterns were brought to the attention of the owners or managers. As soon as such pattern developed, the animal could be examined and treated. This makes good economic sense, because healthy cows produce more. But it struck me as compassionate as well.

We also discovered that some cows would game the system, realizing that every time they stuck their head into the feeder, that auger would start up and dump grain into the trough. We fixed it so they would only get a healthy amount at a crack. They figured out that putting your head in, pulling it out, and putting it in again would get you another pile of goodies. We modified it again, so it wouldn't do that. The cows that had been gaming the system were fine, but certain others would never go back after it stopped delivering feed for them. So we modified it again so that even if you'd already had your allocation, sticking your head in again would still net you another handful. Just enough to keep them coming back when they got hungry, and more importantly, the next day, and the day after that, etc.

It was really fun trying to outthink cows. It wasn't nearly as easy as you'd think.

Tablets have their place on the farm too

[perpenso]

Farmers don't need iPads. They need to have the government ...

The two are completely unrelated. Tablets are just a modern way to do things that farmers have been doing for centuries. Looking up data (almanac), researching historical trends (memory, chats with neighbors), communicating with suppliers and buyers, etc.

The real stuff is not on iPads.

[Animats]

This is just on Slashdot because it's some minor iPad app. This isn't where the action is. Here are the the top 5 tech trends in precision agriculture.

The biggest trend is automatic steering. Self-driving cars are still experimental. Self-driving tractors are mainstream farming. Automatic plow height adjustment is routine. (The bottom of each furrow should be level, so extra water isn't needed to get over the high spots.)

The second biggest trend is integrating sensors and controls. Measuring soil properties and adjusting inputs (fertilizer, seed, sprays) to compensate is a key part of precision farming. The trend is to do this continuously based on real time measurements, rather than based on a few samples taken in advance.

The overall effect is to reduce wasted inputs and thus costs, improving profits. It doesn't increase yield per acre much, but it may make it feasible to farm more acres.