Much of the work on a farm or estate is simply checking: is the trough full, is the gate shut, is the pump running, is that cow unwell. Connected sensors and trackers do those checks continuously and only call you when something needs attention. Here is what smart farming is, who is already using it, the connectivity options that work in the countryside, and where to start.
The 30-second version
- Smart farming uses sensors, trackers and telematics to monitor land, livestock and equipment.
- The biggest win is fewer wasted journeys to check things that are fine.
- Dairy, arable and mixed farms and estates are already using it.
- Rural coverage needs planning: multi-network SIMs, low-power networks and gateways all help.
- We supply the connectivity and help specify the sensors.
On this page
What is smart farming?
Smart farming, sometimes called precision agriculture, uses connected devices to measure what is happening across a farm. Sensors report water levels, soil moisture, weather and gate positions. Collars and tags track livestock. Telematics report the location and condition of machinery.
Readings travel over the mobile network, directly or through a nearby gateway, to a dashboard or app. Alerts flag the exceptions: a trough running dry, a gate left open, an animal behaving unusually.
Why it is useful
- Fewer wasted trips. Check the dashboard instead of driving out.
- Faster response. A leak, an open gate or an unwell animal is flagged early.
- Better decisions. Soil and weather data guide watering, spraying and harvesting.
- Security. Alerts when gates open or equipment moves.
- Records. A history of conditions and events, useful for planning and compliance.
Who is already using it
Dairy farms were early adopters. Many use activity and rumination collars that help spot cows coming into heat or falling ill. Arable farms use satellite guidance and yield mapping on modern tractors and combines, which now come with telematics built in.
Water trough and tank sensors, gate alerts and trail cameras are increasingly common on livestock farms and sporting estates, and vineyards and horticulture businesses use soil moisture sensors to plan irrigation.
What to watch out for
- Coverage across the land. Signal varies field by field, so check it where the sensors will actually go.
- Battery life. Remote sensors must report sparingly to last.
- Weather. Devices need to survive rain, frost and livestock.
- Old telemetry. UK networks have switched off 3G, and 2G is due to go by 2033. Older kit should be checked.
Connectivity options for rural land
A multi-network SIM uses whichever network reaches a field. Some networks offer LTE-M and NB-IoT, low-power connections that reach further and help batteries last. A LoRaWAN gateway can collect readings from many sensors over long distances and send them on over mobile or broadband.
How Synergy Max can help
We check coverage across the land, help specify sensors that suit the location, supply the connectivity and support it afterwards.
- IoT SIM cards, including multi-network SIMs that use whichever UK network is strongest
- Pooled data across every device on one account, with one simple bill
- Monitoring, so a device that goes quiet is noticed and chased
- Private, managed access, so devices are not sitting on the open internet
- 4G and 5G broadband for the farm office or yard
Find out more on our Agriculture IoT page, or see everything we connect on our IoT SIMs page.
Spend less time checking.
Tell us what you check most often and where. We will recommend where to start.