See It In Action: Real Data from Real Farms

Hello Barn Owl believers,

Last week I shared why we started this company. This week, I want to show you exactly what we've built—with real data from real farms like yours.

Live From the Field

This is Smith Family Orchards in Western Mass, 10 AM this morning. Those red zones? That's where codling moth pressure is building. The farmer got an alert at 5:47 AM when populations jumped 40% overnight.

In the old system, they might not have checked those traps for another 3 days.

The Technology Stack

Hardware:

• Weatherproof to New England standards (-20°F to 110°F)

• Modular trap interface (works with what you have)

• LTE connectivity (no WiFi needed in fields)

Software:

• AI trained on 50,000+ New England trap images

• 95%+ accuracy on target pest identification

• Predictive algorithms based on degree days

• Integration with weather data for spray timing

The Magic: It's not just identification—it's insight. Our AI learns your specific orchard patterns and provides actionable intelligence.

ROI Calculator: Let's Do the Math

For a typical 50-acre orchard:

Traditional Scouting:

• Labor: 12 hours/week × 24 weeks × $20/hour = $5,760

• Vehicle costs: 2,000 miles × $0.65/mile = $1,300

• Risk of missed detections: Potential yield losses

• Total Annual Cost: $7,060 + risk costs

With Barn Owl:

• Equipment lease: $280 per season with 1 device for every 10 acres (5 per farm)

• Time checking app: 30 min/week × 24 weeks × $20/hour = $240

• Earlier detection = reduced treatment costs

• Total Annual Investment: $1,440 with improved outcomes

Real Results Dashboard

[Screenshot compilation showing:]

1. Alert Timeline: First moth detected May 12 (historical average: May 18)

2. Population Graph: Showing prediction vs. actual captures

3. Spray Reduction: 28% fewer applications through precise timing

4. Block Comparison: Clear visualization of pressure differentials

What Farmers Are Saying

• "Caught emergence days earlier than manual scouting"

• "Reduced unnecessary broad-spectrum sprays"

• "Identified hot spots I never knew existed"

• "Saved hundreds of hours of manual checking"

Version 2.0 Coming in 2026

Based on farmer feedback, we're adding:

• Multi-pest simultaneous tracking

• Integration with common spray record systems

• SMS alerts for farmers who prefer texts

• Spanish language support

Why This Investment Matters

Every dollar you invest helps us:

1. Subsidize equipment for small farms that need it most

2. Expand our AI training for more pest species

3. Build integration with existing farm management software

4. Develop specialized versions for greenhouse and vegetable operations

We're not just building a product. We're building an ecosystem that makes precision agriculture accessible to every farm, regardless of size.

Why New England Farms Are Losing the Pest Battle—And What We Can Do About It

Last Tuesday at 5:30 AM, I watched Tom Sullivan check his 47th empty codling moth trap of the morning. His Worcester County orchard spans 80 acres, and by the time he finished his rounds three hours later, he'd driven 22 miles, burned through a quarter tank of gas, and found exactly two moths.

"Could've been doing literally anything else," Tom told me, wiping the morning dew from another delta trap. "But miss that first flight, and you've lost the season."

He's not wrong. And he's not alone.

The Scout Shortage Nobody Saw Coming

Here in New England, we're facing a perfect storm. Federal funding cuts have gutted our extension services—USDA lost over half its research staff during the 2019 relocation, and recent cuts target another 30% of positions. Meanwhile, invasive species are arriving earlier and spreading faster than our fathers' generation could have imagined.

The workforce reality is stark:

• Average age of farmers: 58 and climbing

• Four times more producers over 65 than under 35

• 65% of ag employers can't find workers with needed skills

• Extension specialists stretched thinner than ever

The True Cost of Manual Monitoring

Let's talk real numbers. During the 20-28 week monitoring season here in New England—that's March through October, not just summer—farmers are checking traps constantly.

For a typical orchard monitoring codling moth and apple maggot:

• Minimum 2 traps per species per block

• Weekly to twice-weekly checks (more frequent early season)

• Multiple trips across the property

• Conservative estimate: 10-15 hours per week

At realistic agricultural wages of $15-25/hour, that's $3,000-10,000 per season in labor—just to check traps. And that's if you can find the help.

When Early Detection Fails

Here's what keeps farmers up at night: missing that critical first emergence. Research consistently shows that delayed pest management leads to significant yield losses:

• Soybean aphids can cause up to 40% yield reduction if unmanaged

• Wheat faces average losses of 21.5% from pest pressure

• Apple maggot damage compounds rapidly after initial infestation

One Maine apple grower told me last fall about missing an early flight: "The damage was done before we even knew they were there. You can't get that crop back."

Why Traditional Scouting is Failing Modern Farms

The old system worked when:

• Farms had dedicated scouts

• We had robust extension support

• Pest patterns followed predictable degree-day models

• Labor was available and affordable

Today? Climate change is rewriting the rules. Purple loosestrife now blooms 24 days earlier in Concord than a century ago. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, once limited by cold winters, has spread from its 1988 Massachusetts detection to 19 states. The recent Emerald Ash Borer detection in North Andover shows how quickly new threats emerge.

The Ripple Effects

When farmers can't scout effectively, they face an impossible choice: spray preventatively and hope, or risk catastrophic losses. Neither option is sustainable. Over-spraying accelerates resistance, harms beneficial insects, and drives up costs. Under-spraying means accepting preventable losses.

There's a Better Way

This crisis drove us to develop Barn Owl—autonomous trap monitoring that never sleeps, never takes a sick day, and catches that first pest every single time. It's not about replacing human expertise; it's about amplifying it. Letting technology handle the repetitive checking so farmers and their advisors can focus on strategic decisions.

Imagine getting an alert on your phone the moment that first codling moth appears. Picture having population graphs that show trends before they become problems. Think about reducing your chemical use while actually improving your control.

That's not the future. It's happening right now on farms across New England.

Join the Movement

We're not just building technology—we're building a community of farmers who refuse to accept "that's how it's always been done." If you're tired of the dawn patrol to empty traps, if you're ready to get ahead of pests instead of chasing them, we need to talk.

Learn more about how Barn Owl is transforming pest management at barnowltechnologies.com

And if you believe in this mission as much as we do, consider joining us as an investor on Wefunder. Together, we're giving farmers their time back.