Our research demonstrates the value of integrating existing and emerging data-driven technologies and practices under commercial-farm-like conditions.
Through engagement with farmers, industry professionals and other stakeholders, we are actively involved in knowledge transfer, education and training.
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.
News
News
Data collection for agricultural field research can be cumbersome and tedious. Researchers commonly use multiple sensors to gather data from plants, soil and air—all at the same time. The result can be an armload of technology that needs to be...
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Farmers today need to be able to access and use data if they want to carry out efficient, climate-smart agriculture. But the road to data-driven farming is not an easy one, according to Dr. Miel Hostens, Robert and Anne Everett associate...
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Amidst farm fields and dairy barns, an agricultural revolution is underway — with algorithms, sensors, and automation changing the face of farming. Martin Perez '25, a doctoral student in animal science at Cornell University, works at the...
Spotlight
Academic focus: Data-driven dairy management Research summary: I have worked over 15 years in the dairy industry in research, education and extension. My lab focuses on developing data-driven agriculture and integrated precision dairy farming...
News
Manure is a great source of nutrients, but recent studies show there is something even more magical about it. Read on to learn more about the importance of soil health to yield, the ways that manure can influence this and how the Nutrient...
