Agriculture: Commercial and Intensive Farms

Particle Analysis in the Agriculture Sector
Commercial FarmingCommercial farming involves farming for a profit. The farmer is growing crops or rearing animals to sell for as much money as possible. These farms can be arable (just growing crops), pastoral (just rearing animals) or mixed (both arable and pastoral). Increasingly farms are becoming more mixed due to the impact of farming subsidies and regulations. Most of the farming in MEDC’s is commercial farming of one type or another. The arable farms of East Anglia are a good example of commercial farming, as are the cereal farms of the central United States and the Canadian Prairies.
Intensive Farming
Intensive farms generally take up a fairly small area of land, but aim to have a very high output, through massive inputs of capital and labour. These farms use machines and new technologies to become as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Meritics instrument range provides a wide range of measuring techniques, for measuring, Rheology, Particle size, Zeta potential, Molecular weight , Flow characteristics of powders and pore characterisation of packaging materials. These types of measurement are widely used throughout the food production chain, from R&D through formulation and on to production, quality control and packaging.
- Ensure consistency of incoming ingredients
- Rapidly test new formulations
- Accelerate innovation and product development
- Predict shelf life
- Streamline quality control
- Optimise milling and granulation operations
- Improve manufacturing processes
- Increase productivity and yields
- Reduce process downtime.
- Develop appropriate packaging
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards
- Control conditions for Humans and Animals alike
- Monitor quality
Here is a selection of particle analysis instruments which can help the agriculture industry

- Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analysis
- Technology:
Low angle forward light scattering with optional PIDS (Polarisation Intensity Differential Scattering) technology. Analysis of vertical and horizontal polarised lifght at six different angles using three additional wavelengths. Full implementation of both Fraunhofer and Mie Theories. - Particle Size Range:
10nm – 3,000μm
Dry Powder Module:400nm-3,500nm
Universal Liquids Module: 10nm-2000μm - Power Consumption:
≤ 6 amps @ 90 – 125VAC
≤3 amps @ 220 – 240 VAC - Dimensions:
10 in depth (25.4 cm)
37 in width (93.98 cm)
19.5 in height (49.53 cm) - Weight:
52 lbs (23.5 kg) - Typical Analysis Time:
15 – 19 sec - Temperature Range:
10 – 40°C - Sample Modules:
Tornado Dry Powder System (DPS)
Universal Liquid Module (ULM) - Operating System:
Windows 10
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- Powder Analyser: powder flow, granulation & caking and fluidisation
- Technology:
A digital camera with the assistance of cold cathode backlight illumination takes images of the powder whilst it rotates in the drum - Sample Size:
75cc or 125cc - Power Requirements:
80 – 230 Volts, 3 amps - Dimensions:
24 in depth (61 cm)
9 in width (23 cm)
9 in height (23 cm) - Weight:
- Typical Analysis Time:
- Temperature Range:
- Sample Modules:
N/A - Operating System:
Windows XP, Vista,7
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- Cone-Plate Rheometer with automated gap
- Technology: Rotating rheometer with imposed speeds
- Viscosity Range:
1-15,000,000mPa.s - Power Requirements:
90 – 240 VAC 50/60 Hz - Dimensions:
12 in depth (30 cm)
19 in width (49 cm)
25 in height (63 cm) - Weight:
48.5 lbs (22 kg) - Typical Analysis Time:
- Temperature Range:
5 – 300°C - Sample Modules:
N/A - Operating System:
N/A
More info