North Dakota State University reported that its Food, Energy and Water Security initiative is deploying connected sensors at Research Extension Centers and other research locations. Partnerships with Grand Farm and Dakota Carrier Network support the infrastructure, alongside USDA Agricultural Research Service funding.
At Hettinger, temperature, humidity, leaf wetness and soil conditions are being monitored to study the weather associated with fusarium head blight. Separate residue-management trials use soil-moisture and temperature probes connected to LoRaWAN data loggers. Researchers can inspect readings remotely rather than repeatedly visiting each station.
The account also describes prospective uses around irrigation and cattle-water monitoring. These are research deployments and planned extensions; the stated ambition to cover every acre of North Dakota is a long-term network goal, not existing universal coverage.
