Direct-to-Satellite Tech a ‘Game Changer’ for Beef Farmers
Central Otago farmer Bevan McKnight no longer worries about leaving a few Angus cattle behind while mustering on the 13,000ha station he leases.
Now a new agreement is about to benefit farmers and growers.
CNH has announced an agreement with Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, to bring industry-leading satellite connectivity to farmers. The collaboration will provide customers of CNH brands with robust and affordable high-speed connectivity, further unlocking the benefits of a fully connected fleet.
Starlink's advanced satellite network offers reliable, low-latency internet, enabling intelligent machines to communicate and coordinate efficiently, enhancing productivity and yield.
The system seamlessly integrates with the CNH FieldOps digital platform, giving users visibility of their machines and providing data from any location, at all times.
It also offers users greater data streaming capabilities by keeping their farm management devices consistently connected, regardless of location.
Prescription spraying is another potential situation where Starlink's fast and reliable transmission technology will benefit farming operations. A lack of connectivity in some markets can make farm logistics challenging.
CNH's FieldXplorer platform uses AI to transform drone images into a field map that distinguishes between weeds and crop.
Using a Starlink connection, the manufacturer says they can now export that data near instantaneously to create a prescription spraying map for the machine.
The result is farmers being able to apply crop protection products sooner, controlling weeds earlier, helping to improve crop yields.
"We're thrilled to offer our customers access to industry-leading satellite connectivity, enabling them to maximise the potential of our full suite of precision technology in even the most challenging rural environments," said Stefano Pampalone, agriculture chief commercial officer at CNH.
