Internet of Things in Agriculture

By using an app or simply logging into a website, real-time data is presented to staff who need it, available anywhere and anytime. This helps workers make timely decisions regarding bin inventory management.

Combining cloud-based apps and advanced level sensor technology makes inventory and supply chain management easier. Information is portable, available anywhere on a phone, tablet, or PC with internet access. Total transparency, fewer discrepancies, and more information lead to better decision-making.

This combination offers: 

• Better Control – Centralized digital control, minimal human intervention, faster and timelier outputs 
• Cost Containment – Less overtime, automation of daily tasks, fewer inefficiencies, no emergency or late delivery charges 
• Historical Reporting – View past orders and historical level reports
• Improved Monitoring – Real-time reports of on-hand supply, forecast when feed will run out, data is continuously updated effortlessly 
• Optimized Production Processes – Streamline communication between people and devices and get everyone on the same page 
• Process Improvements – Reduce material outages, production stoppages due to shortages, fewer batch processing errors 
• Security – Data is stored securely and safely Simplicity - no servers, no IT department, programming updates done by the hosting provider 
• Time Savings – Eliminate bin climbing to focus on higher-value tasks
• Vendor Managed Inventory – Ingredient suppliers can be assigned login credentials and viewing rights, so they can monitor inventory in tandem with the mill

Cloud Programs for Feed & Milling

BinMaster’s BinCloud® platform is an integrated cloud foundation to monitor inventory data contained in bins, tanks, and silos. It enables both on-site and remote workers to work from wherever they are. There are specialized SaaS offerings suited for grain storage operations and flour and feed mills.

BinView® is used in agriculture and food processing to monitor all types of solids, powders, and liquids. It is used by grain storage facilities, feed mills, pet food processors, and food and beverage manufacturers. It can be used with all types of level sensor technologies, including non-contact radar, the 3DLevelScanner, and laser level transmitters.

FeedView® is customized for livestock farmers. This comprehensive feed management solution combines wireless, battery-powered laser level sensors with simple-to-use software. It automatically measures bin levels, projects feed needs using historical consumption rates, records the use of medicated feeds, and lets farms place orders with the feed mill. Automated alerts ensure farms know when to schedule deliveries, preventing feed shortages and eliminating emergency delivery costs. 

Allowing the feed mill access to FeedView allows the mill and the farms to better coordinate production and delivery.

A Three-Step System

Step 1: Type & Size
Consider the type, size, and number of bins. If there`s material in a bin, tank, or hopper, BinMaster has a sensor to measure it. 

Begin designing your system by creating a list of your vessels, their dimensions, the type of material stored inside, and any existing equipment installed or used on the bin like a temperature cable, ladder, or sweep. Nuances—such as access to or structures in the vessel—may also contribute to your sensor specification.

Also note if the bins are grouped in any way by location. Bins grouped together physically can be addressed with wiring configurations, such as daisy-chaining, which can save on wiring costs. Bins distanced and further from power are good candidates for battery-operated sensors and wireless devices.

An inventory management system can be used across multiple plants or corporately for hundreds of silos. Dryers, day bins, and fuel and chemical tanks are also excellent candidates for level sensors and inventory monitoring. They can be easily added to the same system.

Step 2: Frequency of Measurement Updates
Do you need constant measurements or will readings at intervals throughout the day suffice?

Continuous level sensors do as their name implies; they update continuously and in real-time. Readings taken at pre-set time intervals or on demand may also work for your plant. Technologies such as 80 GHz radar update in seconds, while wireless lasers measure in intervals—from every hour to three or four times a day—to conserve battery life. Some can be programmed at set intervals—like the beginning or end of a shift—and can take measurements on demand with the push of a button.

Step 3: Where to View the Data
From a communications standpoint, determine where staff need access to the data. Systems can be designed to offer visibility from a control room, office, remote location— such as corporate headquarters—or from home. This provides the option to log in and view inventory anywhere you have an internet connection. 

Another common device for convenience in the plant is a control console, or digital panel meter. These can be installed for walk-up or drive-up access, indoors or outdoors.

For example, a driver delivering grain should check the bin level before they start filling it. They can confirm the entire load will fit into the bin to prevent the risk of overfilling. These push-button devices are easy to use and can be used for view-only data access on the plant floor. 

An automated inventory system using level sensors and software are highly affordable. They offer simplicity and speed while allowing mill personnel to be safe and more effective in their jobs. Contact BinMaster to begin designing your system today.