Dakota Carrier Network (DCN) is involved in a unique partnership is using technology to research and develop precision agriculture, also known simply as precision ag, in North Dakota. DCN is owned by several small rural broadband providers in the state, providing a fiber backbone throughout a large part of the state.
DCN is partnering with the Grand Farm Innovation Campus near Casselton, N.D. on a $200,000 wireless infrastructure investment at the campus. In addition, MLGC, a broadband company and one of DCN’s owner companies, is providing the last-mile fiber for the project.
The wireless infrastructure will be used for research, development and validation of connective precision ag technology taking place at Grand Farm, which will be a test bed for small businesses, large corporations, startups and research institutions.
The wireless connectivity will use a private wireless approach, which uses the same technology as public cellular networks but is for the use of a single entity. The partners plan to use CBRS spectrum, which is widely used to support private wireless networks.
The combination of several different technologies in the solution optimizes the research processes: fiber optics ensure fast data transfer, a radio access network expands coverage, and CBRS spectrum provides additional bandwidth, according to the partners.
“This network will tie together the entire ecosystem of the Grand Farm Innovation Campus, enabling research that is critical to maintaining North Dakota’s position as a leader in agriculture,” said Seth Arndorfer, DCN’s CEO, in a prepared statement regarding today’s announcement.
“DCN is making this investment because successes at the Grand Farm will bring positive effects to main street North Dakota — increasing the demand for skilled workers, keeping young people in the state, and benefiting businesses from gas stations to software companies. Groundbreaking work is being done at Grand Farm and DCN is excited to be part of it.”
This isn’t the first time MLGC has been involved in precision ag development. MLGC invested $17 million in The Dakota Innovation Corridor Project (ICP) last June for a 10 Gbps fiber network expansion that would connect 25 large farms to Trilogy Network’s cloud-based FarmGrid software.
