We have associated data with the digital realm for years, but now we understand its impact reaches far beyond screens and devices. Agriculture data has evolved into the new farming input, capable of changing how we grow crops and manage resources.
For growers, production facilities, and shippers alike, data can revolutionize the ability to reduce waste, improve efficiencies, and increase the bottom line. In today’s challenging landscape of limited resources, fierce competition, and increased regulatory hurdles, utilizing data to your advantage could be the difference between success and stagnation.
Traditionally, farming inputs included essentials such as seeds, water, and soil. Technology advances introduced fertilizers, pesticides, and automated machinery. Agriculture boasts modern marvels like drones, autonomous equipment, field sensors, and generative AI-based robots. But a new output is being created for each input: data. Agriculture data isn’t just a farming byproduct; it’s a commodity that can become a fundamental farming input.
The big data challenge
Much of the agriculture data collected is underutilized due to cost, compatibility, timing constraints, and the complexity of storing it in traditional systems. According to The New Stack, the average IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) sensor sends one data point per second, totaling over 80,000 data points in a single day per sensor. Now, consider how many sensors are on an average farm or in a typical packaging facility and multiply that number by 80,000. The result? Vast troves of data lie dormant in their digital mines, waiting to be unearthed and transformed into actionable insights.
As a company specializing in agribusiness, we needed to address this challenge. To do so, we developed an innovative new solution that helps companies make sense of their existing data. Optimizing data from Ag ERPs (like Famous, for example), the solution gives companies more control and allows them to derive meaningful insights for faster decision-making.
What can agriculture data really do?
Data has the power to improve business outcomes drastically. Data-driven farming provides access to key technologies such as precision farming, crop and livestock monitoring, weather forecasting, disease and pest management, and supply chain optimization. A Clemson University specialist found moisture sensors in the soil can increase average net income by nearly 20%. Leveraging data can increase productivity, sustainability, and efficiency while helping reduce waste.
Navigating data challenges
While the benefits of data usage in Agriculture are clear, as with any farming input, there are still challenges to consider. Maybe the most crucial challenge faced is ensuring data is reliable and accurate, especially in an industry where rapid changes in weather and market conditions can have immediate impacts.
Inaccurate or outdated data is also a problem that can lead to misguided business decisions, wasting resources, and costing businesses time and money. Compatibility issues with existing systems also challenge companies looking for ways to retrieve and utilize their ERP data. Unlike similar tools, the new Syncrova solution has fewer compatibility constraints and can communicate with any ERP.
In the same way that a new tractor or robot palletizer can increase production and efficiency, so can data. It is the new farming input, revolutionizing the agriculture industry. It gives producers the information they need to maximize their productivity, minimize waste, and build a more sustainable and reliable food supply chain.
Make business decisions faster
Data’s role in agriculture will only continue to grow. It can be your competitive edge, enabling you to make business decisions faster.
Contact us today for a free demo of Syncrova and unlock the potential within your data. Learn more on the Syncrova solution page.