two men stand by tech talking in a dairy barn

Data-Driven Farming Solutions

Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST) for the Farm of the Future

The Farm of the Future Is Now

The Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site (CAST) for the Farm of the Future advances data-driven solutions for climate-smart agriculture. Working with farm and industry partners, we are developing an ecosystem of networked technologies and techniques to meet the needs of 21st-century farms.

CAST includes three real-world, commercial-scale farms that together form an advanced hub for research, extension and education. We focus on field crops and dairy production as models for the US agricultural economy. Among the largest agricultural sectors, they also offer some of the greatest challenges and opportunities for technology implementation, improving efficiencies and mitigating climate change.

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Learn about CAST

CAST gives multidisciplinary research teams a place to come together to share ideas and try out new technologies and management practices. Watch and learn how.

Our Mission

We aim to accelerate climate-smart agricultural transformation with data-driven technologies and management practices through innovation, collaboration and education.

a woman holds a bolus and looks at data on a phone
Research

Our research demonstrates the value of integrating existing and emerging data-driven technologies and practices under commercial-farm-like conditions.

a woman talks to people on a farm
Outreach

Through engagement with farmers, industry professionals and other stakeholders, we are actively involved in knowledge transfer, education and training.

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Education

Our educational efforts focus on experiential learning—creating, touching, doing, interacting, evaluating and reflecting, with CAST as a living classroom.

Technology Highlight

Virtual Fence

Developing low-cost virtual livestock fencing

CAST is working with the Cornell virtual fence project team, in partnership with Bezos Earth Fund, to develop low-cost virtual fencing for low- and middle-income countries. 

The core of the virtual fencing system is a small ear tag with a geolocation mechanism, behavioral sensors and stimulus mechanism to control the location of animals within a virtually defined perimeter. 

Sensors in the ear tag monitor a cow’s eating and drinking behaviors, physical activity and rumination. Individual animal and group behavior insights can then be used by farmers to make herd management decisions.

The ear tag prototype is being developed and tested in real-world conditions on the CAST farm. 

a woman looks at a tag in a cow's ear
Virtual fence ear tags are light enough to not bother the cow. They must also be inexpensive, so that farmers can afford to use them to manage the safety of their herds without costly, environmentally problematic fencing. Photo by Jackie Swift

Connect with us online

News

Julio Giordano, professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, shows dairy industry leaders a collar that can track cows' food intake, at the Cornell University Ruminant Center on June 30.

News

‘Farm of the Future’ showcased at Cornell PRO-DAIRY celebration

On June 30, dairy industry leaders from New York state toured the Cornell University Ruminant Center, a one-of-a-kind testbed for new technologies and strategies and a crucial resource for the state's dairy farmers.

  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Animal Science
  • Animals
a man looks at data on a computer in a cow barn

News

Bringing the Farm of the Future to life
Research and development of new agricultural technology takes time. Prototypes of devices such as biosensors for tracking livestock health and soil moisture sensors for crop fields require multiple iterations of testing, validation and redesign...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Musgrave Research Farm
  • PRO-DAIRY
a man stands in a cow barn wearing a methane sensor backpack

News

Dairy Environmental Systems: So much more than manure
When you think about the science of dairy farming, you may think about cow genetics or feed formulation, but what about environmental stewardship? This includes things like manure management, cow comfort, and greenhouse gas reduction—all aspects...
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Ruminant Center
  • Animal Science
a woman looks at a tag in a cow's ear

News

A hands-on approach to the farm of the future
Farming can be hard and risky, but technology has the potential to change that. With the help of data generated by devices such as wearable livestock sensors, drones and video cameras, farms can become more efficient and productive, said Dr...
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Animal Science
  • Digital Agriculture
Woman smiling in front of a tree.

Field Note

Pursuing tech-driven innovation in nutrient management: Meet Issa Diaz
Graduate student Issa Diaz ‘28 grew up in San Luis, Comayagua, Honduras. She has always been passionate about helping farmers streamline their practices and dreamed of coming to Cornell University. Now that she has joined the Nutrient Management...
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Animal Science
  • Agriculture
three logos for NIFA, CIDA, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

CAST for the Farm of the Future research is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant no. 2023-77038-38865 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.