(Rural Roots Canada) – Farm equipment maintenance is a regular stressor for farmers, one that not only eats into their time but also their bottom line.

Technological advancements have helped transform equipment management, with telematics emerging as a game-changer. Telematics is the integration of telecommunications and informatics systems that monitor, manage, and optimize machinery performance. It combines hardware, software, and wireless communication systems to collect and transmit data in real-time to the dealership and the farmer.

“Telematics is basically a tool that notifies both the dealership and the customer when their machine is hitting a service interval,” says David Cooper, product specialist for precision farming and technology at Kubota Canada. “They have the heads-up so when you phone or walk into the dealership, they are somewhat prepared to deal with exactly what you need as far as service items, filters, lubricants, and even if you need to book the machinery into their shop to get the work done.”

For example, Cooper says Kubota machines alert users to early service intervals, such as a 50-hour initial maintenance check for engine oil changes after a machine’s break-in period. That reduces the risk of missing essential maintenance tasks, leading to expensive breakdowns, something no one wants to deal with during critical farming seasons.

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Telematics mitigates the risks of unexpected equipment failures that can slow or shut down farming operations by enabling proactive troubleshooting. If your equipment encounters an electrical issue, the system generates error codes which are sent directly to the deal.  “A technician already has an idea of what’s wrong with your machine before they even get there,” says Cooper. “This drastically helps speed up repair times.”

Maintenance isn’t the only issue telematics can address, it can also play a vital role in combatting theft, a growing concern in rural areas. With features like geo-fencing and remote ignition control, the farmer can stay one step ahead of the thieves, allowing them to monitor the equipment’s location and in some cases, disable restart functionality. “If the machine leaves the area you’ve marked on the map, you’re instantly notified,” points out Cooper. “From there, you can prevent it from restarting, which slows down an attempted theft.”

Telematics is becoming an indispensable tool for modern agriculture. It helps reduce stress and allows farmers to focus on what matters most: running their farms efficiently and effectively.