Key Takeaways:
- Microclimates installed outdoor weather stations and soil moisture sensors at Hurst Greenery in Missouri.
- The system offers real-time monitoring of soil conditions and integrates with smart irrigation systems.
- Partnership with Benchmark Labs delivers farm-specific, 15-day hyper-local weather forecasts.
- Future projects include grain bin monitoring to automate climate control and prevent crop loss.
- The expansion aims to apply precision agriculture practices to both indoor and outdoor farming environments.
Microclimates, a provider of precision farming technologies, has expanded into outdoor agriculture by installing an outdoor weather station and soil moisture sensors at Hurst Greenery in Westboro, Missouri. This project aims to enhance crop management through real-time environmental monitoring, marking Microclimates’ move from controlled greenhouse environments to open-field farming.
The collaboration with Hurst Greenery began two years ago with the automation of over 20 greenhouses using the Microclimates platform, introduced by partners Trilogy Networks and Veea, Inc. The system, which uses LoRaWAN technology for wireless connectivity, provides remote monitoring and automation of greenhouse operations. Blake Hurst, owner of Hurst Greenery, noted that the ability to monitor greenhouses remotely has been crucial for preventing crop losses.
Outdoor Soil Monitoring
To improve outdoor crop management, Microclimates installed Dragino wireless soil moisture and temperature sensors, integrated with its user interface. These sensors provide continuous, real-time data on soil conditions such as moisture and temperature. The system helps farmers like Hurst track soil health and make informed irrigation decisions by analyzing data over time and setting alerts for critical changes.
This approach reduces manual labor and enables more precise water management, supporting efficient irrigation practices and promoting sustainability.
Hyper-Local Weather Forecasting
To further enhance outdoor crop management, Microclimates partnered with Benchmark Labs to install a LoRaWAN weather station at Hurst Greenery. The station collects on-site environmental data, which is analyzed using AI algorithms to generate a 15-day hyper-local weather forecast specific to the farm. This system helps farmers anticipate weather conditions more accurately, improving decision-making related to crop protection and resource management.
Future Expansion
Microclimates plans to expand its technology to monitor grain bins in Missouri and Indiana. By using LoRaWAN sensors, the system will track temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels in grain bins, providing real-time alerts and automated fan control to maintain optimal storage conditions and reduce the risk of crop loss.
