Intelligent pest monitoring equipment

More and more often I hear the question: 'Do we needintelligent pest monitoring equipment?'. Many, especially in small farms, consider this an excess and just a waste of money. They say: 'They've always done it this way, and they did it normally.' Indeed, traditional methods - visual inspection, traps - have worked for decades. But times are changing. Simply 'doing business as usual' in the face of rising crop protection costs and increasingly stringent environmental requirements, it seems to me, is no longer the answer. I’m speaking as a person who was once skeptical about such technologies, but now works with them every day.

The problem is not the method, but the scale and speed

The main problem that modern monitoring systems solve is scalability and responsiveness. If you have a small garden, traps and visual inspection will do the trick. But if it is tens of hectares of an apple orchard or hundreds of hectares of grain crops, it is almost impossible to understand where and when the problem arose only visually. By the time you reach the problem area, the pest will have time to cause significant damage. And this is where it comes to the rescueintelligent pest monitoring equipment.

I remember one time we were working in an apple orchard with an area of about 50 hectares. Manual inspection was impossible, even with the involvement of a large team. Harmful aphids began to multiply en masse, and conventional insecticides no longer helped. The losses were huge. And then we decided to take a chance and install several sensors to monitor aphid activity. The first results were surprising - the sensors showed a sharp jump in activity in a certain sector of the garden, several days before our workers noticed it. This gave us the opportunity to quickly apply a more effective method of struggle.

Activity sensors: the first step towards intelligent control

Perhaps the most common and accessible elementintelligent pest monitoring equipmentare activity sensors. They record the movement of insects, converting it into an electrical signal. This data is transferred to a central server, where it is analyzed and displayed in a convenient form. What is important is that modern sensors not only record activity, but can also determine the type of insect by the frequency and nature of movements. Not all models, of course, are capable of this, but this is a trend.

When choosing sensors, you should pay attention to their range, sensitivity and resistance to external influences. For example, we had to deal with the problem of false alarms due to wind and rain. We selected sensors with good signal filtering and sensors specially designed for work in field conditions. It is important to install the sensors correctly - follow the manufacturer's instructions, take into account the direction of the wind and the location of the trees.

Automatic spray systems: real-time response

If activity sensors indicate increased pest activity, the spray system can be automatically activated in the problem area. This is called spot spraying. Instead of spraying the entire garden as is done the traditional way, you can apply the insecticide only where it is needed. This significantly reduces chemical consumption and reduces environmental impact. This approach is now the priority.

We have installed a spot spraying system on one of our farms. At first we were a little concerned about how the system would perform in difficult weather conditions. But after several months of work it turned out that it works very stably. The system automatically adapts to changing weather conditions and eliminates the possibility of spraying during rain or strong wind. It is important to set up the system correctly to avoid accidentally spraying non-target plants.

What could go wrong? And how to fix it

Of course, not everything is so rosy. Like any complex equipment,intelligent pest monitoring equipmentmay malfunction. We encountered problems connecting sensors to the central server, incorrect software settings, and breakdowns of the sensors themselves. But in most cases these problems are resolved quite quickly.

One of the most common questions is how to interpret the data received from sensors. An increase in pest activity does not always mean that it is necessary to urgently apply insecticides. Sometimes this may be due to other factors, such as changing weather conditions or the appearance of new insect species. It is important to have the experience and knowledge to correctly interpret data and make informed decisions. In addition, do not forget that the monitoring system is only a tool, and the final decision remains with the person.

Interaction with other systems: the future of agricultural technologies

In the futureintelligent pest monitoring equipmentwill be closely integrated with other agricultural technology systems. For example, with soil moisture control systems, weather stations, and drones. This will make it possible to create comprehensive farm management systems that will take into account all factors affecting productivity. We are currently experimenting with integrating our monitoring system with drones to obtain a more accurate picture of crop health.

Drones with thermal imagers, for example, make it possible to identify outbreaks of diseases and pests long before they become noticeable to the naked eye. And data on soil moisture allows you to optimize irrigation and reduce water consumption. Modern agricultural technologies are not just individual tools, they are a unified system that makes agriculture more efficient and sustainable.

Conclusions and recommendations

So,intelligent pest monitoring equipmentis not just a fashion trend, but a real tool that can help increase productivity and reduce plant protection costs. But it's important to remember that this is not a magic pill. To achieve success, you need experience, knowledge and the right approach to use. If you are ready to invest in modern technologies and learn from your mistakes, thenintelligent pest monitoring equipmentcan become your reliable assistant.

Our experience shows that even on small farms, using even a basic set of activity sensors can bring tangible benefits. And for large farms, of course,intelligent pest monitoring equipment– this is a necessity. Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC is ready to offer a wide range of solutions for monitoring and pest control, as well as provide consulting support in the selection and implementation of equipment.