Agricultural sensors and IoT devices – precision agriculture with FarmPortal

Connect agricultural weather stations, soil sensors, ISOBUS guidance systems and machinery telemetry to a Farm Management System (FMS). FarmPortal integrates field, crop and device data to support Agriculture 4.0 and the development of a crop digital twin.

Illustration of a tractor and a wireless sensor in a field

Agricultural weather stations

FarmPortal integrates selected agricultural weather stations from 3 manufacturers: METOS, Atmesys and Weenat. Monitor air temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation, depending on the device model. Weenat weather stations measure 3 core parameters: rainfall (mm), temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%).

Weather data linked to fields feeds the decision support system (DSS), helping users plan spraying, irrigation, fertilization and crop protection.

FarmPortal stores measurement history and supports configurable alert thresholds. Integration capabilities depend on the station model and configuration.

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Mast-mounted iMETOS weather station with a rain gauge and sensors
Yellow agricultural guidance receiver with a cable

Agricultural RTK guidance, ISOBUS and autosteering

FarmPortal integrates agricultural guidance systems from two Polish manufacturers, AgroOSA and Hydra System, connecting Polish precision guidance technology with a Polish farm management application. Supported RTK solutions offer positioning accuracy of around 2–3 cm, depending on the device and operating conditions.

Supported implementations enable the use of field boundaries, route history and variable rate application (VRA) maps. Selected systems support section control and ISOBUS (ISO 11783), the communication standard for tractors and implements in precision agriculture. Two-way data exchange with FarmPortal depends on the guidance model and implementation; ISOBUS support in a terminal does not automatically transfer all its data to the application.

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GPS fleet monitoring and agricultural machinery telemetry

FarmPortal combines GPS monitoring with CAN telemetry to track locations, routes, working hours and agricultural machinery parameters. Depending on the vehicle and device, the system reads speed, engine RPM, temperature, fuel level and consumption, and other CAN bus data.

Agricultural machinery telemetry, guidance data and compatible ISOBUS systems can support fieldwork management. FarmPortal links this information to treatment records, fields, operators and costs to support work accounting for tractors, combines and other machinery. The scope of ISOBUS integration depends on the device and implementation.

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Tracky device for GPS tracking and machinery telemetry
ClimateWatch device for monitoring storage microclimate

Microclimate sensors and storage monitoring

FarmPortal integrates sensors for temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels in storage facilities, warehouses and crop piles. Available measurements depend on the device.

The system stores measurement history and supports threshold alerts to help users monitor storage conditions for fruit, vegetables and other crops.

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Soil moisture sensors and precision irrigation

FarmPortal integrates data from compatible soil moisture sensors, with updates every 15–60 minutes in supported integrations. Available products include solutions from 3 manufacturers: Botanist, METOS and Weenat. Probes measure at 1–3 configurable depths, including 10, 30 and 60 cm or 20, 40 and 60 cm.

Depending on the model, sensors monitor volumetric water content (VWC), temperature, water potential (kPa) and electrical conductivity (EC). Root-zone data supports water balance models and an irrigation decision support system (DSS), including fertigation planning.

Product availability and compatibility do not imply an active integration. Data transfer to FarmPortal must be confirmed for the specific model and configuration.

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Three soil moisture probes of different lengths for measurements within the soil profile
Probes for monitoring soil moisture at different depths. Available measurements and data transfer to FarmPortal depend on the model and integration.
Mast-mounted frost sensor with an antenna, temperature probes and a wet-bulb thermometer water reservoir
Frost sensor measuring wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures. Data and alerts support decisions to activate frost protection in orchards, vineyards and plantations.

Frost sensors and crop alerts

METOS and Weenat frost sensors support frost monitoring in orchards, vineyards and plantations. They monitor air temperature and, depending on the device, wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures to help assess frost risk.

The Weenat frost sensor takes measurements every minute. On the LoRa network, it transmits data to the manufacturer's platform every 5 or 15 minutes, depending on temperature. The update frequency in FarmPortal depends on the specific integration.

Available alerts and notifications help users start protective measures in time. Weenat SMS, email and phone notifications are features of the manufacturer's system; availability depends on configuration and subscription.

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IoT device integrations and the crop digital twin

FarmPortal, part of the FarmCloud platform, integrates agricultural devices, IoT sensors, irrigation systems, machinery telemetry and external applications. Device data combined with crop history, weather and field operations forms the foundation of a crop digital twin: a digital representation of field conditions and activities, updated as data arrives.

API integrations and device data exchange support process automation, DSS and Agriculture 4.0 solutions. They provide the data layer for a crop digital twin; the scope of data exchange and automation depends on the implementation.

SYSINTA irrigation system integration

For Brodowski Owoce, FarmPortal was integrated with a SYSINTA irrigation controller. The solution enables irrigation control from the application and links crop data with irrigation system management.

Weighbridge and camera integration

For Agrolig, FarmPortal was integrated with weighbridges and a camera system. Weighing results are sent to the application, while number plate recognition automatically identifies vehicles.

Frequently asked questions about agricultural weather stations and sensors

Depending on the model, agricultural weather stations measure air temperature and relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, atmospheric pressure and leaf wetness. In compatible configurations, additional sensors measure soil moisture, soil temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), and wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature. Systems can use these measurements to calculate dew point, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), evapotranspiration (ET₀) and Delta T.

The basic Weenat weather station measures three parameters: rainfall, air temperature and relative humidity. METOS offers various configurations, such as the METOS 5 300 MWS with wind, solar radiation and leaf wetness measurements. Atmesys Basic includes rainfall, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, solar radiation and storm detection. The choice depends on the farm’s needs and the sensors fitted to the specific model.

Wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall measurements help with planning spraying. A leaf wetness sensor is also useful for monitoring crop disease risk. These data help assess spraying conditions but do not replace the requirements on the plant protection product label.

In orchards and berry plantations, useful measurements include temperature, humidity, rainfall and leaf wetness, with an additional temperature sensor where frost is a risk. For polytunnels, miniMETOS Tunnel measures air temperature and relative humidity but does not support additional sensors. The number of measurement points depends on the area, terrain and variations in microclimate.

For frost monitoring, METOS 5 Frost can be used with an air temperature and humidity sensor. Confirm that the sensor is included before buying: the product specification lists these measurements as optional, requiring a connected sensor. The Weenat frost sensor measures wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature. Measurements at crop level help assess risk and set alert thresholds. The choice depends on the crop, microclimate and frost protection method.

Not every weather station includes a soil probe. Irrigation monitoring requires additional soil moisture sensors measuring volumetric water content (VWC), temperature or soil water potential (kPa). For example, nMETOS 180SM supports both atmospheric and soil monitoring. Single-depth probes and multi-depth sets are also available, including sets measuring at 20, 40 and 60 cm.

Yes. Many models operate without local Wi-Fi or a mains power supply. Devices use technologies such as LTE-M, NB-IoT and LoRa, powered by batteries, rechargeable batteries or solar panels. Suitable connectivity is still required at the installation site. Measurement and transmission intervals depend on the model: miniMETOS Tunnel, for example, takes readings every 15 minutes and transmits data approximately every 60 minutes.

It depends on the manufacturer and package. Atmesys Basic includes a three-year FarmPortal licence, while selected METOS devices exclude a FarmPortal subscription, battery or mounting mast. Weenat products have options with or without an annual subscription. Before buying, check data transmission and platform access costs, accessory availability and integration requirements.

A physical weather station measures weather conditions directly at its installation site. A virtual station uses meteorological data and forecasts for the field’s location without installing equipment. The FarmPortal virtual station provides forecasts up to 14 days ahead and historical data for up to 24 months. Local measurements can be particularly valuable for farm weather monitoring in orchards and plantations with varying microclimates.

FarmPortal integrates guidance solutions from Polish manufacturers AgroOSA and Hydra System. Depending on the device, field data, routes and prescription maps can be exchanged. Selected terminals support ISOBUS (ISO 11783); the exact scope of integration with FarmPortal depends on the model and implementation.

GPS/CAN machinery telemetry devices can record location, speed, route history, working hours and selected engine parameters such as RPM, temperature and fuel consumption. Available readings depend on the machinery model and telemetry device. ISOBUS support in a terminal does not automatically provide access to all machinery data.

Want to integrate your own device with a farm management application?

FarmPortal supports custom integrations of sensors, machinery and IoT devices with the farm management system. Send us the device model, communication or API documentation, and a description of the data you want to exchange. We will assess integration and process automation options.

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Free virtual weather stations for every field

FarmPortal provides virtual weather stations linked to field locations, without installing physical sensors. Access forecasts up to 14 days ahead, historical data for up to 24 months, rainfall totals, temperature, humidity, wind and weather alerts.

The data supports planning for spraying, irrigation and water balance, as well as analysis of farm weather conditions. A virtual station can complement monitoring from physical METOS, Atmesys and Weenat stations. FarmPortal offers a free virtual weather station package within the current limits.

Set up a virtual weather station