How 5G Will Transform Farming and Agriculture

Using farm IoT sensors in agriculture is nothing new, but they are just nerves, not the brain. Once you control irrigation, measure soil parameters, monitor crops, or track livestock, it’s all IoT farming. But if you want to solve crop or livestock problems rather than just detect them, you need to add AI algorithms and robotics so the system operates in real-time. Here’s where 5G comes into play.

• Why 5G Farming? Isn’t LTE Enough?

  Let’s say a farmer owns 30,000 acres of land and wants to know which crops require immediate irrigation or pest control. This information can be easily obtained from special sensors attached around the land. 3G/4G connectivity would usually allow sensor data from the entire farm to be uploaded by the end of the day. In contrast, 5G can support a larger number of connected farms IoT devices in real-time. So, the farmer will instantaneously receive the important information they need about each crop area.

• What is 5G technology?

  5G is the next generation of wireless technology that will provide faster network speeds and connectivity. 5G networks will offer speeds ten times faster than the fastest available 4G networks today. With 5G, you can expect mobile data speeds from 1 to several gigabits per second depending on the network. This means 5G will enable many new applications that require high speed and low latency like virtual reality, self-driving cars, telemedicine, and more.

• The Role of 5G in Revolutionizing Farming

  5G technology promises to transform farming in significant ways. Perhaps the biggest impact will come from Internet of Things applications using sensors, robots, and drones. With high-speed connectivity, fleets of devices can collect real-time data across fields. Autonomous machines using 5G can precisely monitor soil moisture, and analyze crops up close. Drones survey large areas quickly to find pests or issues.

  This constant data flow gives farmers insight into optimizing their operations. Using analytics, they can tell exactly which areas need more water or fertilizer. Precise irrigation and precise application of chemicals save costs and reduce waste. Real-time monitoring also catches problems early for faster responses. With machine vision, drones can automatically detect and count crops as they grow.

• Benefits of Transitioning to 5G Farming

  • Crop Monitoring

    Crop waste is one of the factors that contribute to the accumulation of 1 billion tons of annual agricultural waste. With 5G, you can help farmers better manage their resources and reduce waste. IoT farming sensors on plants, in the soil, or on autonomous drones gather valuable data. They help define the exact number of seeds, fertilizer, water, and pesticides needed. The data gathered can also determine when the farmer should intervene. Autonomous, real-time monitoring like this is becoming a basic feature of IoT farming.

  • Pest Control

    Weeds and crops are natural companions. One weed variety is a “volunteer” plant, which grows on its own rather than being intentionally planted by a farmer. There are two ways to get rid of volunteers: spraying pesticides and human labor. Pesticides can be harmful to both human health and soil, while human labor is expensive and time-consuming.

    Bringing 5G to a farm helps automate weed removal. With a 5G connection, you can put computer vision in place to identify weeds automatically and robots to deal with the leftover plant material.

  • Produce More Using Less

    Agriculture is highly influenced by environmental factors. With climate change and population growth, the pressure of food demand will constantly increase. “Grow more using less” is the only reliable strategy we have. Using smart farming technologies based on fast and stable 5G connectivity gives us hope.