RFID is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification.” This technology uses digital data, which is encoded in RFID tags and read by a reader via radio waves. RFID is comparable to barcoding in that data from a tag is acquired by a device that stores the data in a database. RFID has the advantage over barcodes in that the RFID tag data can be read without being seen, whereas barcodes must be seen so that an optical scanner can read it.

RFID is part of a technology that is referred to as Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). AIDC automatically identifies an object, collects data about the object, and enters that data directly into computer systems without human intervention. Basically, RFID systems consist of three parts: an RFID tag, an RFID reader, and an antenna. A RFID tag contains an integrated circuit and an antenna, which is used to transmit data to the RFID reader, which then converts the radio waves into a practical form of data. This information is transferred through a communications interface to a main computer system, where the data is stored in a database and analyzed later.

There are many uses for RFID technology in agriculture. Bales of hay can be tagged, capturing the date harvested, the field where it was harvested, the temperature, weight, moisture level and the nutritional information to be captured and stored. RFID has many potentials that busy farmers are seeking. RFID is non-contact. It has a high identification rate, mass memory, secure access, and can be integrated into an existing system without difficulty. Data collection in greenhouses is also doable with specialized RFID tags and readers, which are designed for warm and humid conditions.

The employment of RFID makes it possible to monitor the chain of perishable food and the expansion of new applications in fields like environmental monitoring, irrigation, specialty crops and farm machinery.