How to Run a Winter Feed Audit (And Save Money Doing It)

  Your Barn Owl cameras just got a whole lot smarter, and every alert you receive from here on out is one actually worth your time. The problem with too many alerts If you have ever had your phone buzzing with notifications about passing cars, branches waving in the wind, or a neighbor's dog trotting through the edge of the frame, you know how quickly alert fatigue sets in. Your camera is doing its job by detecting motion and activity across the entire frame, but not everything happening in that frame is something you actually care about. When every alert feels the same, the important ones start to get lost in the noise. That is exactly what Detection Zones is designed to solve.  What are Detection Zones? Detection Zones is a brand new feature available now in the Barn Owl app that lets you define exactly which areas of your camera's view should trigger AI detection alerts. By tapping the grid squares covering parts of the frame you want to ignore, like a public road along the property edge, a tree line that sways in every breeze, or a section of yard that only neighbors pass through, you can deactivate AI detection in those areas entirely. From that point on, your camera only sends you an alert when something is detected inside the zones you have chosen to keep active. The result is a more focused, more useful set of alerts that tell you what is actually happening in the areas of your property you care about most. What does this mean for you? The biggest benefit of Detection Zones is something you will feel immediately: confidence that when your phone buzzes, it means something. Instead of filtering through a stream of notifications to figure out which ones matter, you can trust that every alert you receive is worth opening. For customers monitoring driveways, barns, gates, equipment yards, or entry points, this means you can keep AI detection sharp and focused on the areas that count, while tuning out the parts of the view that would otherwise create unnecessary noise. You set it up once, and your camera handles the rest. Detection Zones also gives you per-camera control, so you can configure each camera on your property independently based on what that specific view needs. A camera covering your barn entrance has different needs than one overlooking a pasture, and Detection Zones lets you treat them that way. How to set it up Getting Detection Zones running on your cameras takes less than a minute, and you do not need to update your app to access it since it is available right now. Open the Barn Owl app and tap the three dots on the camera you want to configure, then select AI and Alerts. Under the AI section, tap Detection Zones to open the grid view for that camera. From there, tap any grid squares covering the areas of the frame you want to exclude from AI detection. Greyed-out zones will not trigger AI detection alerts, and only the active zones you leave on will send you notifications going forward. That is all there is to it. Your camera is now focused on exactly where you want it to be. A note on how Detection Zones works Detection Zones applies specifically to AI-detected objects, including people, vehicles, and animals. If you are also managing alerts from motion-based triggers like wind or environmental movement, those are handled separately through your alert sensitivity settings in the app. You can use both tools together to get the cleanest, most relevant alert experience possible. Available now, at no extra cost Detection Zones is included as part of your Barn Owl subscription and is available now in the app for iPhone, Android, and tablet. If you are already a Barn Owl customer, you are getting this update for free, and you can start setting up your zones today. If you are considering Barn Owl for your property, Detection Zones is one of a growing list of AI powered features designed to make off-grid camera monitoring feel less like managing a feed of notifications and more like having a reliable set of eyes on the parts of your property that matter most. Learn more: barnowl.tech/pages/detection-zones  

We are proud to share that Barn Owl has been named the Top Farm and Ranch Camera Company 2026 by AgriBusiness Review. This recognition means a great deal to our team, because it reflects both the trust of our customers and the validation of leaders across the agricultural industry. The award was based on nominations from readers and a thorough evaluation by a panel of C level executives, industry experts and the publication’s editorial board, as described in the certificate. A Recognition Rooted in Real Customer Impact Barn Owl was created to solve a problem that many ranchers know well. Long days and long distances often stand between them and the equipment, animals and infrastructure they rely on. In the feature article, AgriBusiness Review highlighted how Barn Owl grew from this challenge and how our mission has stayed focused on one idea: making remote monitoring possible anywhere Our camera systems are built to be simple to set up, rugged in the field and dependable in the moments that matter. The article describes how our ready to install kits, solar powered operation and cellular connectivity give ranchers instant access without the need for WiFi or on site maintenance. This combination of simplicity and durability was a key reason Barn Owl stood out in the evaluation. Designed for the Real World RangeCam 2 and RangeCam Live were also recognized for their flexibility across a wide range of environments. From monitoring water tanks to protecting calving areas to securing remote entrances, customers rely on Barn Owl to keep them connected when physical distance gets in the way. The editorial feature noted Barn Owl’s strong value, its reliable alert system and the engineering behind the scenes that protects every transmission. What This Award Means for Us This award is a milestone, but it is also motivation. We will continue to build tools that save time, reduce stress and help people protect the land and assets they care about. Our mission remains the same as the day Barn Owl began. Technology should serve the people who work the land, not the other way around. We are grateful to our customers for trusting Barn Owl and to AgriBusiness Review for recognizing the work our team puts in every day. If you would like to read the full feature story, you can find it here: https://www.agribusinessreview.com/barn-owl

Bulk feed is convenient, but it’s also vulnerable. Winter moisture, condensation, and pests can turn a perfectly good load of grain into waste — fast. Here’s how to protect your bulk feed investments. 1. Keep Bin Lids Fully Closed and Latched Even a tiny gap invites: moisture raccoons birds rodents Make sure gaskets and seals are intact. 2. Check for Condensation Inside Bins Temperature swings cause moisture to collect on bin walls and drip into feed. Solutions: insulated bin roofs drying fans managing bin fill level to reduce air pockets 3. Inspect Augers and Delivery Points Worn augers can: spill feed attract pests leave grain exposed to moisture A quick check each month prevents costly loss. 4. Add Gravel or Concrete Under Exterior Bins Standing water or melting snow around bin bases leads to: rust moldy feed rodent burrowing Improving drainage protects both feed and equipment. 5. Use Cameras to Monitor Bin Access Points Place a camera where: the auger meets the barn the bin ladder is located livestock or wildlife approach Cameras can alert you to: raccoons climbing bins feed spills storm damage nighttime trespassing Barn Owl cameras are weather-resistant and ideal for monitoring exterior feed areas. A single camera can save hundreds of dollars in bulk-feed losses each year.