The agricultural industry is faced with many hurdles today. From changing weather patterns to limited budgets, stringent guidelines as well as logistical and financial challenges, there is so much that goes into the food that ends up on our dinner plates.
One area where farmers must improve to start turning things around is related to the crops they produce. Better maintenance, greater productivity, and less waste are critical.
Sensors Help with Crop Maintenance
In some of the most important farming areas in the nation, the threat of drought has already created a stir around summer crop planting this year. Farms are having to make decisions about water use and soil monitoring so they can ensure necessary growth yields are met.
The need for more irrigation also increases spending and leaves less room for profits. To help curb this, tools that measure soil moisture and precipitation levels become critical for farmers. The continued quality control they provide– regardless of drought, supports growth throughout the season and for farmers, that’s a win-win.
Fluid switches and liquid level sensors find application within these tools. The sensors provide an accurate measurement of water being delivered to the plants and can sense how much is left for the soil to absorb. Overwatering can have just as bad an effect on crops, causing rot and not to mention, wasting water – which is both costly and bad for the environment.
Curbing Food Waste with Level Sensors
Better crop yields also lead to less food waste – another threat we’re faced with today.
Waste in the form of less than perfect crops, deformed vegetables, and those with abrasions getting left behind is part of the problem. Up to 20 billion pounds of produce are being left out in the fields and it’s happening on a grand scale.
That number is only part of the problem. When these crops make it to our dinner tables, even greater waste happens.
According to research from the USDA, “30 million acres of cropland, 4.2 trillion gallons of irrigation water, 1.8 billion pounds of nitrogen fertilizer, and 780 million pounds of pesticides went into producing food that was thrown away.”
With tools to measure and maintain what’s being delivered to crops, it’s possible to create a better yield that farmers can sell. This type of precision agriculture is exactly what’s needed to curb food waste.
Sensors Can Solve Crop Insurance Woes
Finally, crop insurance is a giant industry. These policies help farmers to manage the risks they face due to Mother Nature and unpredictable weather changes. Without insurance, farmers risk the possibility of being shut down if a disaster occurs, but purchasing it is also costly.
With better tools in place to monitor the environment in a field, farmers can lessen the impact of weather extremes. Sensors that measure water provide data, monitor conditions, and activate irrigation systems when needed. Together this helps to improve the landscape for today’s already burdened farming industry.