How to Evaluate Farm Tech Tools — 5-Question Checklist | FarmAI Ireland

Every farm show has a tent full of shiny screens promising to save you time. Most of the sales pitches sound brilliant. Some of the tools genuinely are.

The problem is telling the difference before you hand over your card details.

Here are five questions that cut through the noise. Ask them every time. If the seller can't answer them clearly, that tells you everything you need to know.

Question 1 — What specific job does this replace?

This is the most important question. A good tool replaces a task you already do — and does it faster, cheaper, or more accurately.

"It gives you better insights" is not a job. "It records grass measurements so you don't walk the farm with a plate meter and a clipboard" is a job. PastureBase Ireland does exactly this, and it works because the job it replaces is concrete and measurable.

Before you look at a demo or read a brochure, write down the task you want to eliminate or speed up. If you can't name it in one sentence, you don't need the tool yet.

Ask the seller: "What specific task on my farm does this replace, and how long does that task take me now?"

If the answer is vague, walk away.

Question 2 — What does it actually cost per year, including the hidden bits?

The sticker price is never the full price. You need the annual total — subscription fees, hardware, connectivity, and your own time learning it.

Here's what to add up:

Subscription or licence fee. Many tools charge monthly or annually. A tool that costs EUR 30 a month is EUR 360 a year.
Hardware. Sensors, readers, cameras. Ask if they need replacing and how often.
Connectivity. Does it need broadband, mobile data, or a SIM card? What's that costing you per year?
Setup time. How many hours will it take to get running? Your time has a value.
Training. Do you need to attend a course or spend hours watching tutorials?

Herdwatch, for example, is upfront about its annual subscription. That's a good sign. If a company buries the ongoing costs or makes you dig through small print, treat that as a red flag.

Ask the seller: "What is the total cost for year one, and what's the annual cost from year two onwards?"

Write both numbers down. Compare them to what you spend on the task the tool replaces.

Question 3 — Does it work without reliable broadband?

This matters more in Ireland than most sellers want to admit. The National Broadband Plan is rolling out, but plenty of farmyards still have patchy signal at best.

Some tools work offline and sync when you're back in range. Others need a constant connection. If yours needs broadband and you don't have it reliably, the tool is useless — no matter how good the demo looked on a conference Wi-Fi connection.

Moocall's calving sensors, for example, use mobile networks rather than broadband. That's a design choice built for real farms, not conference centres.

Ask the seller: "Does this work offline? If not, what connectivity does it need, and what happens when the signal drops?"

If the answer involves the phrase "you just need a good connection," ask them to define "good" in megabits per second. Then check what you actually get in your yard.

Question 4 — Can I try it before I commit?

Any company confident in its product will let you test it. A free trial, a money-back window, or a pilot programme with your Teagasc advisor — these are all signs the company believes the tool works.

No trial, no demo account, no refund policy? That's a warning sign.

Teagasc regularly runs technology demonstration projects through their farms and advisory network. If a tool has been tested through a Teagasc programme, that's independent validation. Ask the seller if they've been through any Teagasc or university trial. Ask for the results.

Ask the seller: "Can I try this for 30 days before I pay? If not, why not?"

If the only option is a 12-month contract with no exit clause, you're taking all the risk. The seller should share some of it.

Question 5 — What happens if the company goes bust?

This is the question nobody wants to ask but everybody should. Agtech startups fail. It happens. When they do, your hardware can become a paperweight and your data can disappear.

Think about:

Data export. Can you download your records in a standard format (CSV, PDF)? Or are they locked inside the app?
Hardware independence. If the company's servers go offline, does the hardware still function?
Company track record. How long have they been trading? Are they funded? Who backs them?

A well-established company like ICBF has been around for decades. A startup founded last year might build something brilliant — but your data should never be trapped inside their system.

Ask the seller: "If your company shuts down tomorrow, can I still access my data and does the hardware still work?"

If the answer is no to either, think carefully about how much of your farm records you're willing to put at risk.

The 60-second version

Before you buy any farm tech tool, ask these five questions:

What specific job does this replace on my farm?
What does it cost per year — subscription, hardware, connectivity, and my time?
Does it work without reliable broadband?
Can I try it before I commit to paying?
What happens to my data and hardware if the company goes bust?

If you get clear, confident answers to all five, the tool is worth a closer look. If you get waffle on more than one, save your money.

Your next step

Print this checklist. Bring it to the next farm show, open day, or demo. Write the answers down for any tool that catches your eye. Compare them side by side when you're back home with a cup of tea and no sales rep watching.

You don't need to be a tech expert to evaluate tech. You just need the right questions.

Independent advice matters. Before committing to any significant technology purchase, talk to your Teagasc advisor. They've seen what works and what doesn't across dozens of farms in your area. Find your local Teagasc office →

How to evaluate any farm tech tool before you spend a cent