Today, as we close in on winter, the topic is access and control. At this time of year you spend a lot of time going in and out of outhouses, storerooms, milking parlors, calving sheds and barns.
You need good light and heating, knowing which animals are in which barn. Do they have a sufficient stock of food, water and bedding, to make it through the darker days? Is it going to drop below zero tonight? Which cow has the lame leg?
“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
🟩 Securing a homestead
Farm buildings often store high-value equipment; tractors, machinery, tools, fertilizers, feed, etc. Conveniently for thieves, they’re often down one track roads with very few neighbors. The combination of high value and low risk is a combination many criminals favor. Farms in remote locations are always a juicy target.
That’s where IoT access control holds the line. Wireless devices monitor who’s entering or leaving buildings, set access permissions. You receive alerts when doors or gates are left open—all via smartphone or computer in real-time. Get notified if your animals have jumped a fence and are running wild. We address that topic in more detail here.
🟩 Rugged hands free tools
Access control can work with cameras or via punching in codes to keypads, but the farm environment does not suit such tools. It is wet and wet weather is no friend to electronics. You are muddy, covered in layers of clothing, carrying something, often alone. Remote and wireless options, ruggedly built, fit for purpose, are a better way to go.
IoT-enabled smart farm locks can be set up to allow authorized individuals into certain areas, keeping livestock safe, ensuring only approved staff have access to sensitive zones. Locks can be programmed to work on schedules, ensuring that storage facilities remain locked after hours or set to open when remote authorization is given, either by mobile device or “chip.”
🟩 Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Whether it’s ensuring optimal airflow in livestock barns or maintaining precise temperatures for crop storage, IoT controlled ventilation and AC systems are a game-changer, adapting to changes in wind speed, wind direction, rain fall, heat or cold in real-time.
IoT-enabled HVAC systems come with sensors that constantly monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality. These systems adjust ventilation automatically based on real-time data, reducing the need for manual adjustments.
Smart sensors automate adjustments and run only when needed, cutting down on energy consumption and operational costs. You are improving conditions for livestock and running a more efficient operation.
Last line…
Controlling access for both animals and humans is an important consideration for farmers. In this very shallow introduction we have considered some basic elements of a connected solution in a farmyard setting, at this time of year.
