Arable, a California-based startup that provides real-time updates on irrigation and weather and reports for crop management, has announced the commercial availability of the Arable Mark 3, the new generation of the company's in-field sensing and communication device.

The company claims that Mark 3 can be set up quickly, activated with one button, and does not require maintenance. It includes a 5 MP camera, an optional wind anemometer, and advanced plant and environmental sensing capabilities. Its enhancements include:

• Advanced sensing for early detection of crop stress, protecting quality and yield: Equipped with advanced sensing technology, including a thermal sensor that reads canopy temperature to within 1°C and a 22-narrow-band spectrometer.

• Expanded connectivity for continuous monitoring: Equipped with a high-powered antenna that is claimed to have a range 7x greater than a typical cell phone, 5x the battery capacity, and 2x the charging power of the previous generation, enabling it to operate for up to two months without sunlight.

• Farm-tough ruggedness: Features a solid-state design and materials and sensors engineered for in-field durability and reliability to operate in harsh growing conditions.

Analyst QuickTake: Arable Mark 3 is the latest addition to Arable's product portfolio, which is an irrigation management tool that synthesizes climate, plant, and soil data to produce visualizations. Mid-last year, the company raised USD 40 million in Series C funding to support product development, the delivery of new services, and expanding its international presence. As of date, the company helps customers in more than 30 countries serving agribusinesses and global food brands such as Bayer, Netafim, and Absolute Foods.