Precision Farming: Importance of Weighing Systems in Agriculture

Most industries require weighing or measurement in some form. Whether it’s construction, manufacturing or food processing, accurate weighing is always needed. Agriculture is certainly no exception, and you may be surprised just how many agricultural processes require weighing equipment. Just like any business, a farmer relies on accuracy for a number of reasons, especially to ensure they maximise profits wherever possible.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the agricultural scenarios where accurate weighing is paramount.

Feeding livestock

Farmers can check feed bags using precision scales to ensure their livestock gets the necessary nutrients. Many farming operations strictly control the amount of food distributed to animals, and weighing systems play a key role in ensuring all livestock is well-fed and healthy.

Weighing livestock

Just as farmers need to monitor feed levels for their animals, they also need scales to check animal weight. This serves a dual purpose because weighing animals can help to identify health issues. But it’s also an essential part of the livestock sale process. Most livestock is sold by weight, and even if long-distance transport is involved, livestock is weighed before and after to check if weight has been lost during transport.

Grain inventory

Any agricultural operation that uses silos can benefit from accurate weighing equipment. For example, the silos and tanks that farmers use to store grain and other produce can be turned into permanent scales. Rather than guessing stock levels based on a visual check, farmers can use specialist tank and silo weighing systems to manage inventory better.

Processing

An increasing number of farms are looking to diversify their income streams, which often means producing their own food and beverage products for sale. As such, they often require precision weighing equipment, whether for recipe batching or simply for weighing their produce before sale.

Wherever food processing is involved, hygiene is crucial, so farmers may look to invest in hygienic loadcells. These loadcells are designed specifically for hygienic applications and feature smooth, seamless surfaces. The design reduces the risk of contamination because there are fewer spaces where dirt, dust or bacteria can accumulate.

Legal for trade applications

Most farmers sell produce of some sort. Whether it’s crops, livestock or animal by-products, everything a farmer sells must be legal for trade. This means the product has undergone strict testing to meet requirements. For example, if a farmer does his butchering and sells packaged meat to local buyers, the meat must equal its advertised weight. If a farmer sells bags of grain, they, too, must be weighed accurately.  

NWI Group offers compression weighing modules for tanks and silos, but smaller tanks can also be mounted on bench or floor scales. This type of system design makes it easy for producers to accurately check and weigh everything they sell.

Need help with agricultural weighing systems?

NWI Group is your leading supplier of agricultural weighing systems. Our team of experts can conduct on-site visits to assess and recommend the perfect weighing system for your needs. From turning existing tanks into tank scales to revolutionalising tank, hopper and silo weighing systems through our partnership with Minebea Intec Solutions, we’ve got you covered. If you run an agricultural operation, NWI Group is your first choice.