Conserve Resources And Save Costs with Smarter Water Management

As global populations rise, the topic of food scarcity quickly takes center stage. Farmers, under pressure to conserve resources, are also tasked with increasing production. At first glance, it can seem impossible to accomplish both, but with help from IoT (the Internet of Things) and a LoRaWAN infrastructure, reducing resources while increasing yields is quickly becoming a reality.

Currently, more than 600 gallons of water per day per person are being used for farm irrigation and livestock use, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. The high volumes of water use, combined with growing concern for environmental conservation, have prompted officials to limit water use in some areas. For farmers, water restrictions can cause great concern, especially when faced with irregular weather patterns and unusual seasons. Keeping soil conditions in check while improving water efficiency is nearly impossible without constant monitoring and advanced tools to help guide decisions and make adjustments sooner.

Giving Farmers the Right Tools for Effective Water Management

Increasing yields goes well beyond water use. From soil conditions to weather, pest concerns to labor—managing every aspect of a farm is challenging and, without the right tools, often out of the producer’s control. The basic geography of a field can create challenges for growers making it difficult to prevent under- or over-watering.

Sensors embedded with LoRa technology can be placed throughout fields to monitor and track soil moisture. Combined with other devices like weather stations and irrigation systems equipped with smart technology, farmers can connect the devices using IoT and a LoRaWAN infrastructure.

The captured data is collected, analyzed, and made available to farmers through an intuitive interface accessible from a mobile device. Not only can they make critical decisions regarding where and when to irrigate from virtually anywhere, but farmers are also empowered to reduce labor needs and travel costs associated with driving from field to field.

Ethos Connected Makes Connection Possible in Sparsely Populated Areas

The shift toward precision ag solutions has been slowed by a lack of broadband availability in rural areas. Ethos Connected is leading the way in connecting more farmers to critical access. With the largest public, carrier-grade LoRaWAN in North America, we equip producers with cost-effective real-time data, allowing them to create a connected farm, water management system, and connected irrigation solution.

Being fully connected, producers will have the knowledge and tools to optimize water resources and improve soil health. Affordable and easy to deploy, a connected solution from Ethos Connected helps farmers drastically improve their water management systems and make more informed decisions across every aspect of their operation.

Conclusion

Limited water rights, aging infrastructure, and improper irrigation management cost farmers valuable time and money. With advancing precision ag technology and connectivity solutions like a LoRaWAN infrastructure from Ethos Connected, producers gain access to useful insights on a variety of aspects of their fields. Monitoring every aspect of water delivery and application can empower them to make better decisions about irrigation and place water exactly when and where it’s needed most, ultimately conserving resources and lowering input costs.

Are you interested in learning more about how LoRaWAN solutions from Ethos Connected are empowering farms to conserve water and improve yields? Contact Us.