Mike Jennett estimates about half of farmers are now using some sort of bin monitoring and as the trend continues, more are choosing wireless solutions.
Jennett, Equipment Team Advisor at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), says low cost, simplicity and the ability to try out a system on one bin before scaling up are factors.
“We have a lot of customers who like the fact that with Co-op AgZone BINLogic there’s minimal equipment to purchase. Just the adapter for the cables that’s required with any system, and the fact that you can set up just one bin if you’d like to try wireless monitoring without going ‘all in’ with all your bins,” he says.
“We’re dedicated to making it fast, easy and aff ordable to get the peace of mind that comes with automatic monitoring around the clock. Life gets busy and it’s one more thing off your plate. Our wireless customers never go back to living without it.”
Jennett had been doing installation for wireless bin monitoring for about seven years with various companies and says BINLogic is the easiest by far.
“It’s beyond easy,” he says. “It takes longer to set up your account.”
Kimball Lischynski, FCL Senior Ag Equipment Manager and an engineer, adds that one of the main system design goals was to make starting the service as fast and simple as possible.
“It’s designed for DIY install, quick attachment to the bin cables and DIY set-up on your phone,” he says.
The BINLogic devices are 100 per cent solarpowered, with battery backups, and they can be placed on bins anywhere in western Canada with even the lowest cell signal.
No purchase required
BINLogic stands apart from other wireless bin monitoring solutions in that there’s only the cost of an adapter that’s needed with any wireless system. There are no upfront monitoring device costs as there are with other companies.
“The other companies also require a masterrelay unit and system layout and installation by trained personnel, so it doesn’t make financial sense unless you do all your bins,” Jennett says.
“That’s a big upfront cost. With BINLogic, there’s one device per bin, no master unit, and you can do just one bin, or as many bins as you need, whenever you need.”
Co-op has found this way is the most headachefree for farmers. “If a unit isn’t working, we will swap it out right away at no charge,” Jennett says. “The device’s software receives over-theair updates as needed, and should the units themselves become outdated, we will replace them at no cost. You basically rent our device, very similar to how you rent your Wi-Fi router from your internet provider. That isn’t the case with other companies where you have to buy the units.”
Moisture and temperature conditions are accessible from anywhere
After the device install on one or more bins (by the farmer or Co-op Equip Team member), setting up the app takes only a few minutes.
The device then sends ongoing periodic temperature and moisture data from the bin’s cables to the app, accessible from anywhere in the world. You can also receive notifications as desired based on pre-set alerts and can track historic readings too.
Never lose a bin
Jennett notes that although farmers well understand the benefits of wireless bin monitoring, there are still many who haven’t taken the plunge due to the upfront purchase cost of monitoring devices and other hassles.
“That’s completely understandable,” he says, “and that’s why we’ve worked hard to take those things out of the equation. We make sure it’s easy, simple, flexible and affordable for farmers to make sure they never lose a bin.”
