Understanding the value of farm specific sensors with LoRaWAN

Summary

Telecommunications coverage remains a challenge across Australian agriculture from both a coverage and price perspective.

This project sought to prove that adoption of reliable internet of things (IoT) networks could provide value to the livestock industry. Eight demonstration properties representing different livestock enterprise types were selected for the trial.

Site specific LoRaWAN network connectivity proved to be sufficiently reliable to support deployment of any IoT sensor solution, however topography impacted total available coverage from a single installation.

Objectives

The main objectives of this project were to:

• install LoRaWAN network coverage across eight identified properties
• install nominated sensors on each of the eight properties
• work with other sensor providers to install additional trials using LoRaWAN 
• assess network and sensor performance, integration and technology issues as well as other value added opportunities for IoT on farm on a quarterly basis
• undertake pricing model analysis for sensor connections.

Key findings

• The three key solutions that producers see as driving efficiencies and benefit on their farms are:
  • water trough sensing solutions
  • water tank monitoring solutions 
  • livestock tracking solutions.
• Producers have an appetite to pay up to $5,000 for farm specific connectivity if the attached solutions provide value.
• Solution providers should be weighted to an up-front model, with a small annual recurring fee to provide the close level of support expected by livestock producers.
• Post installation solutions need to be robust and protected enough to withstand both interactions with livestock and the extreme climate conditions experienced across seasons in rural and remote Australia.
• Despite the speed at which technological solutions on farm are being developed, connectivity and pricing aspects that this project sought to understand remain to be a challenge to broader value realisation and adoption of IoT in the livestock industry.

Benefits to industry

The resounding feedback from providers through the course of the project was that they see the highest level of value from IoT in the ability to remotely monitor water supply points across their farm, as well as near-real time tracking of their livestock.

MLA action

Outcomes of the project demonstrated the feasibility of LoRaWAN to support the deployment of Digital AG IoT devices and informed future strategic pathways for Digital Agriculture projects.

Future research

Future research will include quantification of business case value propositions for IoT use cases.