FarmTech: BinSentry brings AI automation to the feedlot

The agriculture workforce’s struggles with labor issues in recent years have opened the door to more automation and integration of artificial intelligence (AI).

Designers at BinSentry say they’ve developed a piece of FarmTech that helps livestock producers take the guesswork out of feeding time.

“BinSentry puts a high-end, time-of-flight camera into the top of animal feed bits,” explains Ben Allen. “That gives us a highly accurate reading of the inventory levels inside of those feed bins and the rate of consumption of animals out of the barn. That data is then fed into our software platform, where we can see things that go far beyond inventory. We can see what’s going on with profiles, how often we’re needing feed returns, when there are outages.”

Designers found that most feed outages are traced back to issues with bin slides. Those errors can increase feed conversion ratios by as much as seven basis points, costing farmers money.

“We can actually help our enterprise customers have fewer emergency orders for food, shorter amounts,” Allen explained. “Under these feed returns, you know, those types of really important metrics.”

The company has also developed 3D optical sensors powered by AI. The system enables farmers to monitor feed levels and optimize feed management, particularly when no one is on site.

Learn More: BinSentry Website

Related Stories
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Bernt Nelson provides an updated outlook on the current U.S. cattle market.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses the status of USDA disaster aid, including delays to Stage 2 of the SDRP program, and what farmers should watch for as lawmakers negotiate an end to the government shutdown.
Taryn Fischels, Product Marketing Manager for Precision Upgrades at John Deere, joins us to share a sneak peek of her chat with FarmHER’s Kirbe Schnoor on the Dirt Diaries podcast.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Federal nutrition policy is signaling a stronger demand for whole foods produced by U.S. farmers and ranchers. Consumer-facing guidance favors animal protein, but institutional demand may change little under existing saturated fat limits.
Farmer Bridge payments are being used primarily to reduce debt and protect cash flow, not drive new spending. Curt Blades with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers joined us to provide insight into the ag equipment market and the factors influencing sales.
Wed, 1/21/26 – 7:30 PM ET
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to share insights on building healthy habits and improving rural health in the year ahead.
Dr. Rosslyn Biggs with the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine shares insight into biosecurity, preparedness, and animal health concerns facing livestock producers as New World screwworm outbreaks continue in Mexico.
Tennessee Rep. John Rose joined us to pay tribute to his friend and colleague, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a true Champion of Rural America.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.