Claims
- 1. A method of monitoring an agricultural operation in a geographical area comprising:
dispersing a plurality of sensors within said geographical area wherein each said sensor can detect a chemical or biological agent that may pose a threat to the agricultural operation; and monitoring said plurality of sensors for the presence of one or more of said chemical or biological agents.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the agricultural operation comprises raising plants or animals.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the plants are selected from the group consisting of fruit crops, fungi, grain crops, trees, vegetable crops, and combinations thereof.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plants are selected from the group consisting of corn, mushrooms, rice, soybeans, wheat, and combinations thereof.
- 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the animals are selected from the group consisting of cattle, chickens, ducks, horses, pigs, sheep, and combinations thereof.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors are dispersed at the points where materials enter or exit the agricultural operation.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographical area is selected from the group consisting of an acreage, a barn, a corral, a fenced-in area, a pen, a area of planted crops, a vineyard, a yard, and combinations thereof.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least five sensors, at least twenty five sensors, or at least fifty sensors.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical agent is selected from the group consisting of carcinogens, contaminants, poisons, pollutants, toxins, and combinations thereof.
- 10. The method of claim I wherein the biological agent is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and combinations thereof.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring comprises testing samples that enter into the agricultural operation.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the samples are selected from the group consisting of samples of air, bedding materials, feed, fertilizer, soil, water, and combinations thereof.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring comprises testing samples that leave the agricultural operation.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the samples are selected from the group consisting of samples of air, bedding materials, biological waste materials, effluent, soil, water, and combinations thereof.
- 15. A method of monitoring an agricultural operation in a geographical area comprising:
dispersing a plurality of sensors within said area wherein each said sensor can detect a chemical or biological agent that may pose a threat to the agricultural operation; monitoring said plurality of sensors for the presence of one or more of said chemical or biological agents; and taking action to protect the agricultural operation upon detection of a chemical or biological agent by one or more of said plurality of sensors.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of:
treating the animals or plants of the agricultural operation with an agent that inactivates the chemical or biological agent detected; treating all or a portion of the agricultural operation with a prophylactic that prevents harm from the chemical or biological agent detected; destroying all or selected portions of the agricultural operation; and combinations thereof.
- 17. A system designed to detect potentially harmful chemical or biological agents that enter an agricultural operation comprising
a plurality of sensors designed to detect a chemical or biological agent, wherein said plurality is dispersed throughout the agricultural operation; and a control station connected to each sensor which provides information to a user on the activity of said plurality of sensors.
- 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control station is a computer.
- 19. The system of claim 17 further comprising a means to segregate a portion of the agricultural operation from the entirety of the operation.
- 20. The system of claim 19 wherein said means is operably connected to said control station.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application, serial No. 60/258,309, entitled Biological Agent Detection Technology in High Density Agriculture Operations, filed Dec. 28, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60258309 |
Dec 2000 |
US |