Water flow

Water flow meter streaming flow rate and volume, informing the farmer when and how much water is flowing to the tank and at what rate. The location of the water meter is shown on a map of the farm, with differing colours denoting the flow rate to the tank.

If the flow rate shows either no, or low flow, or flow when all downstream tanks are full, the colour of the locator turns ‘RED’ and the farmer receives an email warning.

Ground

Ground sensor streaming soil moisture and temperature in six soil profile layers, informing the farmer as to the moisture level and temperature of the soil at each profile layer. The location of the sensor is shown on a map of the farm, with differing colours denoting the respective level of moisture and temperature at each layer.

If at any layer the temperature goes above a predetermined level, or the moisture level at any layer goes below a predetermined level, the colour of the locator turns ‘RED’ and the farmer receives an email warning.

Livestock

Cattle herd surveillance and management can be made easier utilising a farmer operated autonomous drone, which can be set to fly predetermined waypoints, controlled remotely using free Mission Planner software, on a ground station (windows-based PC).

The video from the drone’s camera is automatically downloaded to the PLF platform, from where the farmer can review in almost real time.

Crops

Testing and monitoring soil condition is vital to any form of cropping. Moisture content, temperature and quality at various levels in the soil profile enable the farmer to make evidence-based decisions regarding:

• When and what crops to plant
• Irrigation timing, location and flow
• Nutrient requirements to overcome any soil quality issues.

Weather

On-farm weather station providing information, including:

• Temperature,
• Wind speed and direction,
• Rainfall,
• Data provided
  • – Current
  • – Historic
  • – and forecasting.