Finding a maple syrup line with a problem or a leak can be quite the task if you’ve got 200 acres of maples trees and more than 8,500 taps like Nate Bissell, who runs 100-year-old Bissell Maple Farm in Ashtabula County, Ohio.

About a year ago, he installed a monitoring system by Farmblox, which utilizes a sensor ecosystem and artificial intelligence, to help curb labor costs in finding problems — such as downed trees or squirrels chewing through the lines.

“The technology allows you to monitor how things are going without physically being there, which saves a ton in labor and, quite frankly, sleep and anxiety,” says Bissell, who also owns Ohio’s largest maple syrup bottling plant in Jefferson and buys syrup from more than 100 suppliers. “It’s about efficiency in finding vacuum leaks and tank monitoring, and this system is less than half the price of some competitors.”

FARMBLOX: Farmblox utilizes a sensor ecosystem and artificial intelligence to help curb labor costs in finding on-farm problems. Here it’s being used on a maple syrup system. (Courtesy of Farmblox)

Farmblox, a startup company that has three co-founders who met in college, connects equipment and in-field sensors to the internet so farmers can see everything from their phone or computer and take action, says Nathan Rosenberg, CEO and co-founder of Farmblox.

The universal monitor box delivers power and wireless connectivity to its sensors — even in remote locations — and can be left out year-round, even in the snow and ice. That means no more trips to replace dead batteries or turning monitors off at the end of the season, Rosenberg adds.

Application beyond maple farms

The company’s roots are in the maple syrup business, but it is branching out to other ag segments — including orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, dairy and other operations wanting a comprehensive, real-time overview of their operations. Rosenberg says it is adaptable and customizable to various crop types, farm sizes and operations.

Farmblox recently announced it has secured $2.5 million in seed funding for expansion, including offering data on soil moisture, soil CO₂, soil temperature, leak detection, tank and silo levels, ambient temperatures, freeze risk, water usage, irrigation pressure, pump conditions, and weather conditions.

CO-FOUNDERS: Farmblox’s three founders met on the first day of orientation week at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. They formed the company, based in Massachusetts, in their last year of college. They include (from left) Marc Printz, Nathan Rosenberg and John Dyer. (Courtesy of Farmblox)

Currently, Farmblox is working with 55 farm customers covering more than 14,000 acres across the U.S. and Canada. Rosenberg co-founded the business with Marc Printz, chief operating officer, and John Dyer, chief technology officer.

“We are building blocks of automation for farmers so they can mix and match what fits their operation,” Rosenberg says. “We are offering an easy-to-install monitoring system farmers can do on their own by tapping their phone to the device, and it shows up in an app. We create customizable automation solutions tailored to their specific needs. We’re tech people; we don’t farm. We don’t try to tell a farmer what to do, but rather give them the tools to do what they want and make it easier.”

Artificial intelligence in agriculture is poised to boom over the next decade — potentially jumping from a $2.3 billion industry in 2023 to nearly $15 billion globally in 2032, according to a new report from Allied Market Research. 

“Twenty years ago, when I started, I’d wake up and my tank was either overflowing or it wasn't,” Bissell recalls. “And there was a lot of guessing going on. My dad would say it’s fine because we know what the trees will determine. But we don't. Sometimes it'll [sap] run all night — not when you think — and a tank would be running over.

“I’m not a paid spokesperson for Farmblox, but it pays for itself in a year, not to mention saving stress and sleep. It's like having two more people on your team. And, frankly, it’s saved a lot of arguments with my dad and me because he has an opinion, I have an opinion, and neither one matters when we look at the data.”

VINEYARD: Here, a Farmblox is monitoring a vineyard. (Courtesy of Farmblox)