Farm Table says:
This research paper discusses the current level of connectivity in the United States and Australia through the availability of wireless technology, internet, broadband, telematics and precision agriculture and what big data would mean for the industry in the future.
Key points were as follows:
- “Big Data has the potential to change the fabric of agriculture as we know it today; but only with wireless connectivity sufficient to employ telematics and other precision agricultural technologies.”
- Big data’s full potential cannot be reached until wireless broadband data is available to all cropping areas in both the United States and Australia.
- Common precision agriculture technologies such as sensor monitoring, satellite imaging and irrigation scheduling will continue to be utilised until full wireless connectivity is available and technology can further develop in this area.
- Big data and telematics services are limited to those who live in areas where broadband and wireless connectivity is unavailable.
- Wireless data technologies that could improve agricultural connectivity include the following:
- Satellite
- Cellular
- Hard-wired
- Balloon based system
- Future improvements in technology such as big data would allow better management practices, higher yields and lower inputs across the agricultural sector.
