Covering large tracts of land and often having spotty cell phone service, farms are not well-suited to communication, and this can be a problem for workers trying to coordinate their activities.

On a daily basis, farm workers must coordinate responsibilities, supplies, and equipment. They also need to keep each other informed about changing weather conditions or emergency situations. This can be a challenge on all but the smallest of farms. On top of that, reliable cell phone coverage can be difficult in many agricultural areas.

Agricultural two-way radios offer an elegant solution to these problems. They can help fill in the gaps where cell phone coverage is missing, and they’re also powerful enough to cover a wide range. These devices are vital communication tools that help to maintain productivity and keep farm workers safe. They’re also compact, durable, and dependable.

Why Radios are Essential for Modern Agriculture

From small boutique farms to large agricultural operations, two-way radios allow workers to talk to each other and share information from miles away. They’re also great to have around in case of an emergency. Two-way radios for agriculture can provide dependable communication in all kinds of working environments, allowing farm owners and supervisors to easily coordinate with team members who spread out over several miles.

Two-way agricultural radios are also convenient to use, with a simple push-to-talk button that’s easy to use. Some radios have Bluetooth connectivity, allowing them to be used hands-free. This functionality is nice for farmers who must use their hands to operate machinery or perform various tasks.

It’s important to point out that many two-way radios require an FCC license for use. These licenses typically cost a nominal fee that isn’t prohibitive. While there are license-free radios, these perform poorly and shouldn’t be relied on as a long-term solution. 

Features Tailored for Agricultural Use

Two-way radios for agriculture have a number of features that are well-suited to use on a farm. Because of this, radios are a standard tool within agriculture.

First and foremost, agricultural two-way radios are built to last. Working conditions on a farm can be rugged, and these radios can withstand dirty and tough conditions, such as high heat or freezing temperatures. They’re also compact and lightweight, making them highly portable.

Two-way radios also allow for individual or group communications. You can speak to someone individually about a specific responsibility, and you can coordinate activities with an entire group. That degree of selectivity allows you to quickly get the right message to the right people.

Many modern radios have GPS tracking capabilities that allow farmers and ranchers to track the locations of their workers and any equipment they might be using. This can be incredibly helpful for coordinating activities and sharing equipment. GPS tracking also helps ensure the safety of workers who might be out in remote areas.

Although many farms don’t have a need for secret communications, two-way radios for agriculture are built with an encryption function. This prevents eavesdropping and gives you peace of mind, even when the things you are saying and texting aren’t necessarily sensitive information. Simply put, they help you keep information private if the situation calls for it.

These are just a few of the features that are tailored for agricultural use. However, there is a wide range of two-way radios available, and the features they provide vary significantly. Before settling on a two-way radio, there are a few things to consider:

• Connectivity. Be sure to choose two-way radios that are capable of covering your entire farm area. If you have multiple operations, you will likely want to communicate among them using a radio with 4G LTE or 5G connectivity.
• Durability. Some two-way radios for agriculture are built better than others. If you expect to use your radios in challenging conditions, look for radios that can withstand them.
• Battery life. Long hours are the norm in agriculture, and you need a radio that can hang with you throughout the entire workday.
• Usability. While you want to take advantage of modern technology, your employees shouldn’t need to take a class to use their radios. Two-way radios can also quickly be implemented during the growing season
• Price. It’s a good idea to get a sense of the prices out there and set a budget for your purchase.

Streamlining Farm Operations with Radios

Purchasing two-way radios for your farming operations is an investment. As with any investment, it’s important to get a return, and two-way radios for agriculture do provide a return in the form of streamlined operations.

Two-way radios make it easier for owners and supervisors to coordinate work among different teams. This is probably the greatest benefit of using agricultural two-way radios, as it helps to keep workers productive and focused on responsibilities that are the most pressing. Two-way radios can also be used to coordinate with other farmers in the area.

Livestock management is a task that requires some degree of mobility, and two-way radios for agriculture offer an elegant communications solution. In addition to allowing for text and voice communications, two-way radios also have GPS location capabilities that can be quite useful when monitoring or moving livestock.

Increasing Safety in Agricultural Workspaces

In addition to helping streamline operations, two-way radios for agriculture also help to make a farm safer. These radios provide a dependable and affordable way to keep workers, visitors, and others out of harm’s way. If there is a downed power line or bad conditions caused by stormy weather, two-way radios can let people know to stay away from the area until the situation is resolved.

Two-way radios also help keep people safe when there is a potential threat on a farm, such as a dangerous animal or human intruder. Two-way radios for agriculture can also help farmers keep their families safe from potential threats or coordinate the movement of livestock during the situation.

Working on a farm can be dangerous, and emergencies happen from time to time. Safety functions like the Man Down and Lone Worker feature help to keep workers safe in remote areas. These functions use motion sensors and other technology to detect when a user has fallen or is unresponsive to a “check-in” alert. Two-way radios make your workers better able to respond to medical situations, fires, and other dangerous situations. They can also help with less severe situations that require immediate attention, such as a livestock escape.

Worker safety isn’t just about preventing accidents and responding to emergencies. Agricultural work is mentally and physically draining. Two-way radios can help farmers keep tabs on their workers and make sure they are holding up to the stress. Radios are also useful when dealing with a worker who has to leave because of fatigue or illness. Being attentive not only keeps your team members safe but also shows concern and supports morale.

Getting the Most Out of Two-Way Radios for Agriculture

While many radios are made for ease of use, getting the most out of them does require some setup and strategy.

First, it’s important to get familiar with your radio and its functions. The best way to learn is by doing, and to get the most out of your two-way radio for agriculture, you should spend some time trying out its various features. Obviously, you’ll want to figure out the volume control and voice-related functions. But it’s also important to get familiar with all of the modern features, such as GPS location.

Second, deploy your radios strategically. The way you deploy your radios or distribute them to individual users will have an impact on the dependability and range of communications. You also may want to consider having one or two backup radios in case one of them fails. If you have a large farming operation or operate multiple farms, you may want to set up a repeater to extend the range of your radios.

Call Us Today to Elevate Your Communication Tomorrow

At Fleet Radio, we specialize in helping folks communicate in all kinds of different industries, including agriculture, by providing them with modern two-way radio products. Our diverse range of experiences allows us to bring ideas and practices from one industry to help a client in another industry. Curious how our experts can make your farm workers safer and more efficient? Contact us today to discuss your communication needs and the solutions that may be right for you.