connectivity at various locations within the Central Valley of California where some infrastructure of connectivity has already been established by a private company with a subscription fee-based system. We were able to confirm connectivity in 17 of the 26 locations.


LTE Cat-M1 by far has the largest coverage and the fastest data rate. Sensor data usage is the most important driver of the cost in using cellular IoT, as rates are tiered based on data usage. According to the Business Insider website, it is anticipated that by 2020, IoT-based devices will generate 500,000 data points per agricultural field per day, which should help the IoT market mature and lower costs significantly. Cellular IoT like Cat-M1 works best for ag applications where sensors are required to send data more frequently and where controls like actuating valves or turning pumps on/off are involved. As the Cat-M1 network expands, it will likely have better coverage in the urban areas first compared to rural areas where agriculture tends to be more pervasive.


Cost estimations and network coverage (prices as of February 2018) Technology


Connectivity cost {/month/device}


LTE Cat-M1 NB-IoT Sigfox


LoRaWAN public LoRaWAN private Symphony Link


$1.00-$2.00


~$1.00 for 100kb <$1.00


$1.00-$2.00 $0.25 $0.25


With the rapid growth of IoT in other areas, there will be an opportunity to evaluate different IoT technologies before adapting them for agriculture. As a company, you may be forced to choose specific IoT technology; however, growers and consultants should not worry about what solution is employed to transfer data from their field to the cloud and to their computer or smart phones, as long as quality data is collected and securely delivered efficiently at a reasonable cost.


$500-$1,500 $500-$1,500


Yossi Osroosh, PhD, is affiliated with the Washington State University Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center and is currently contracted as a research scientist with METER Group Inc. His research is focused on imagery-based crop sensing and management, agricultural IoT and precision irrigation.


Diganta (Dig) Adhikari, PhD, is the director of engineering for Irrometer Company Inc. He has over 16 years experience in water management, environmental engineering, consulting and project management, focused both on government and industry clients.


Infrastructure cost


Network coverage High


Low Low Low


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pumping industry, but rest assured, the technology behind it has helped power efficient motor-driven systems for years. Part of the attraction is that it’s proven to slash electricity consumption by up to 12%*. Continuous run-time applications often see investment payback in less than a year. With just 3 models fortified with SandFighter® construction, it covers the gamut of pump ratings from 7.5 hp up to 60 hp. This beast is built to handle any application, obstacle, or pumping need.


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franklinwater.com irrigationtoday.org 7


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