Using IoT sensors in agriculture isn’t new they act like nerves, not the brain. Sensors can monitor soil conditions, track crops, manage irrigation, and even follow livestock, but they only detect issues rather than solve them. To move from observation to action, farms need AI algorithms and robotics that allow systems to respond in real time. This is where 5G becomes a game-changer.
Although relatively few companies currently use 5G for agricultural IoT, adoption is growing. In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission allocated $9 billion to expand 5G in rural America, signaling a major shift on the horizon. The integration of 5G promises smarter, faster, and more efficient farming here are some pioneering use cases.
Read More: Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Role of Edge Computing in Smart Farming
Why 5G Farming? Isn’t LTE Enough?
Imagine a farmer managing 30,000 cows who wants to know which one is about to calve. Special sensors attached to the cows can provide this information. With 3G or 4G connectivity, data from the entire farm might only be uploaded by the end of the day. In contrast, 5G can support thousands of IoT devices simultaneously, allowing the farmer to receive critical updates instantly.
A network that handles hundreds or thousands of connections without congestion lets sensor data be used in real time, making decisions faster and more accurate.
According to Mike Katz, Executive VP of T-Mobile, 5G isn’t just more powerful it’s more flexible. The 5G New Radio standard, developed after LTE, combines higher bandwidth, better reliability, and energy efficiency. This allows farmers, for instance, to stream HD drone footage over fields without interruptions.
Another advantage over LTE is the new inactive mode, which complements the idle and connected states. It allows devices to reconnect faster after being paused, making them more responsive while using fewer resources. This is particularly useful for promptly detecting livestock leaving designated areas.
Use Case 1: Crop Monitoring
Crop waste contributes to over 1 billion tons of agricultural waste annually. With 5G, farmers can better manage resources and reduce waste through precise monitoring. IoT sensors placed on plants, in the soil, or mounted on autonomous drones collect real-time data, helping determine the exact amounts of seeds, fertilizer, water, and pesticides needed. This data also signals the optimal times for intervention, making autonomous monitoring a core feature of modern IoT farming.
Real-Life Example: Monitoring Plants with Drones
AeroFarms, a U.S.-based vertical farming company, operates fully connected smart farms producing crops year-round. To scale operations and expand to regions like Danville, Virginia, and Abu Dhabi, UAE, AeroFarms partnered with Nokia Bell Labs, a 5G technology provider. Using drones and AI algorithms, the company monitors crops in real time. Drones capture high-resolution images of each plant, which are then processed in the cloud via 5G.
“When I watch the drones autonomously imaging our plants, I am blown away by how this truly represents the power to grow the best plants possible.”
David Rosenberg, CEO, AeroFarms
Using computer vision, AeroFarms analyzes leaf size, stem length, coloration, curvature, spotting, and damage. When the AI detects an issue, technicians receive instant alerts.
The 5G upgrade has accelerated AeroFarms’ digital transformation. Compared to traditional farming, their system delivers up to 390 times greater productivity per square foot, uses 95% less water, and eliminates pesticides. This state-of-the-art IoT ecosystem produces more crops while conserving human and natural resources.
Key Benefits of 5G Crop Monitoring
- Scalable IoT system for new and existing vertical farms
- Up to 390x higher productivity compared to traditional farming
- Up to 95% water savings
Use Case 2: Field Weed Control
Weeds naturally compete with crops, and “volunteer” plants—those that grow unintentionally—can damage yields. Traditionally, farmers remove them using pesticides or manual labor. Pesticides can harm soil and human health, while labor is costly and time-consuming.
With 5G-enabled smart farming, weed removal can be automated. Computer vision identifies weeds in real time, and autonomous robots remove them efficiently.
Real-Life Example: Eliminating Weeds with Autonomous 5G Robots
Agrointelli, a Danish company, develops autonomous robots for farms. One key application is controlling volunteer potatoes that block sunlight for sugar beet crops. Equipped with cameras and precision sprayers, the 5G-connected robot photographs plants, sends images to a cloud-based server, and uses machine learning to classify them. If a potato is detected, the robot sprays it with glyphosate.
Thanks to the 5G connection, this process takes just 250 milliseconds. In comparison, manual spraying takes 20 hours per hectare and costs €320–480. Robots process a hectare in about three hours, correctly identifying up to 95% of weeds, and can operate 24/7.
Benefits of 5G Weed Control:
- Crop processing 7x faster
- 95% weed identification accuracy
- Reduced labor and chemical usage
Use Case 3: Livestock Management
Monitoring livestock in real time is crucial for animal health and farm efficiency. With 5G, farmers can track fertility, pregnancies, and due dates instantly. Sensors on collars and tags relay health data directly to mobile apps.
Real-Life Example: Tracking Calving with Motion Sensors
Moocall, an Irish agritech startup, produces IoT devices that monitor cows during calving. A sensor attached to the tail detects contractions, using motion sensors to track specific movements. Farmers receive instant alerts when a cow is about to give birth.
In the UK, approximately 110,000 calves and 50,000 cows die annually due to calving complications. Moocall reduces these fatalities by up to 50% and saves farmers four hours per day per cow during calving season.
Benefits of 5G Livestock Management:
- Up to 50% reduction in calving mortality
- Saves four hours per cow per day
- Real-time health monitoring
Use Case 4: Insect Farming
Soy-based animal feed dominates agriculture but often harms the environment, particularly in regions like South America where rainforests are cleared for plantations. Insect farming is a sustainable alternative, and 5G-enabled IoT technology can scale production efficiently.
Real-Life Example: Breeding Grasshoppers for Hens
SmartBreed, a Swiss agritech startup, produces IoT-connected breeding boxes for grasshoppers, reducing the need for soy-based feed. Grasshoppers are protein-rich, encourage natural hen behavior, and lead to healthier eggs and poultry.
SmartBreed started with a prototype maturing grasshoppers in nine weeks. Sensors were added to monitor temperature, humidity, CO₂, and microclimate conditions, reducing growth time to three weeks. With 5G, image recognition and AI can track molting phases and automatically adjust rearing parameters, further shortening the growth period to two weeks.
“We work with rural operations, and since we rely on a stable connection, 5G is an exciting option.”
— Christoph Bertschi, SmartBreed Co-founder
Benefits of 5G Insect Farming:
- Shortens grasshopper growth phase by one-third
- Reduces reliance on environmentally harmful soy cultivation
- Produces healthier eggs and poultry
Produce More Using Less
Agriculture faces rising food demand due to climate change and population growth. The strategy is clear: “grow more using less.” Fast, stable 5G connectivity combined with smart farming technologies allows farms to optimize resources, increase yields, and reduce environmental impact.
While 5G adoption in agriculture is still growing, working with IoT-savvy developers like Softeq can help farms implement full-stack solutions. From consulting and early-stage innovation to IoT deployment, farmers can harness 5G to produce more efficiently while conserving labor, water, and energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 5G smart farming?
5G smart farming combines 5G connectivity with IoT devices, AI, and robotics to monitor and manage crops, livestock, and farm resources in real time. Unlike LTE/4G, 5G enables faster, low-latency communication, supporting thousands of connected devices simultaneously.
How does 5G improve crop monitoring?
5G allows high-resolution drone imagery and IoT sensor data to be processed in real time. Farmers can detect plant stress, nutrient deficiencies, or pest problems instantly, leading to more precise interventions and reduced resource waste.
Can 5G help reduce pesticide and labor costs?
Yes. Autonomous 5G-connected robots and computer vision can identify weeds or pests, reducing the need for manual labor and chemical applications while increasing efficiency.
How does 5G benefit livestock management?
Sensors on collars or tags monitor health, fertility, and calving status in real time. Farmers receive instant alerts for pregnancies, calving, or abnormal behaviors, improving animal welfare and productivity.
Is 5G suitable for sustainable farming practices?
Absolutely. It enables precision agriculture, efficient water use, reduced pesticide application, and alternatives like insect farming, minimizing environmental impact while boosting yields.
Do farms need new equipment to adopt 5G?
Yes. While existing IoT devices can sometimes be adapted, full 5G benefits often require 5G-enabled sensors, drones, and robotics, along with cloud-based analytics and AI software.
Conclusion
5G is transforming agriculture from traditional methods into a fully connected, intelligent ecosystem. By enabling real-time monitoring, automation, and AI-driven decision-making, farmers can increase productivity, reduce resource waste, and improve sustainability. From crop monitoring and weed control to livestock management and insect farming, 5G empowers farmers to act faster, more efficiently, and with greater precision. As global food demand grows and environmental pressures intensify, the adoption of 5G smart farming offers a clear path to “grow more using less.”