Talking LoRa Connectivity with PLF Australia

08/04/24 • 31 min

In this episode we’re talking about LoRa, a connectivity option for agtech monitoring devices that can be used in rural areas, across long distances.

Connectivity is often a stumbling block for farmers looking to adopt agtech, particularly for the many growers who don’t have reliable phone signal across their property.

But LoRa is helping to fill the gap – it's a long-range, low power option that can be used to connect monitoring devices and sensors that don’t need to transfer a lot of data to operate.

We’re joined once again by Food Agility CRC’s chief scientist David Lamb to explain how LoRa works and what role it plays in agtech.

We speak to PLF Australia’s (Precision Livestock Farming) Paul Stapleton, who explains why LoRa has become the go-to option for most of the solutions they offer. He’s trying to spread the word to farmers who might assume having no signal means they’re not able to use agtech devices.

And we hear from Mick McKellar, an organic beef cattle farmer from south west Queensland who previously struggled with connectivity, but using LoRa and through PLF has been able to install tank and flow monitoring devices.

www.agtechfinder.com

In this episode we’re talking about LoRa, a connectivity option for agtech monitoring devices that can be used in rural areas, across long distances.

Connectivity is often a stumbling block for farmers looking to adopt agtech, particularly for the many growers who don’t have reliable phone signal across their property.

But LoRa is helping to fill the gap – it's a long-range, low power option that can be used to connect monitoring devices and sensors that don’t need to transfer a lot of data to operate.

We’re joined once again by Food Agility CRC’s chief scientist David Lamb to explain how LoRa works and what role it plays in agtech.

www.agtechfinder.com

Previous Episode

Talking soil carbon with Precision Ag

In this episode we’re talking about soil carbon – we discuss both the opportunities and challenges the measurement and improvement of soil carbon can present for farmers.

We’re joined by Cam Nicholson, a soil carbon consultant and agronomist. He explains new technology that is being developed to measure carbon and the pitfalls farmers can fall into when carbon accounting.

We speak to Precision Ag’s principal scientist Dr Kirsten Barlow, who explains why they’ve introduced an independent soil carbon baselining service – plus she’ll talk us through how technology is currently being used to inform and administer variable rates.

We also talk to Richard Malone from Customised Farm Management Australia. Richard is based in Griffith in southern NSW and he tells us about what he sees as the potential benefits of measuring and improving soil carbon from a corporate farming perspective.

www.agtechfinder.com

Next Episode

Talking traceability and supply chain transparency with FreshChain

In this episode we’re talking about traceability and transparency within supply chains – what’s possible with the agtech available and the challenges of seeing that technology adopted by industry.

Hear from expert Steve Capell, who consults for the Australian Government and volunteers for the UN, running a project called the United Nations Transparency Protocol. He explains how the adoption of traceability technology will improve with the creation of global standards and the introduction of regulations for market access.

Greg Calvert from Fresh Chain, a blockchain enabled, paddock-to-plate assurance system, tells podcast the technology can play a role in everything from food safety to brand awareness.

Johnathon Davey, Executive Officer of industry body Melons Australia talks about how the use of FreshChain technology in a pilot program was “revolutionary” – and what would need to change within the sector to allow the agtech to be adopted on a wider scale.

www.agtechfinder.com