BinSentry Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against BarnTools, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
The complaint alleges that BarnTools infringes U.S. Patent No. 12,359,958, titled “Bin Level Monitoring System,” through its BinTalk and BinTalk Pro products. The patent, issued on July 15, 2025, covers a bin level monitoring system that includes a sensor with mounting bracket, a transmitter, a circuit board, an enclosure, and a transmitter for collecting, processing, and transmitting feed-bin level data.
BinSentry CEO Ben Allen said the company built its business model on proprietary technology that delivers quantifiable value to customers. “As a technology company, innovation is one of our core values and we must protect our intellectual property,” Allen said.
BarnTools denied the allegations and said it will defend itself in court.
“BarnTools respects intellectual property rights, and we believe these claims are without merit,” said Michael Hansen, CEO of BarnTools. “Our technology was independently developed, and we are confident the legal process will confirm our position.”
BarnTools has obtained a written non-infringement opinion from patent counsel supporting its position. The company supports more than 11,000 growers across approximately 20,000 farms nationwide.
The complaint alleges that BarnTools’ own patent filings cited BinSentry’s published patent materials and that BarnTools continued to develop and market products despite knowledge of BinSentry’s pending patent application.
Hansen said BarnTools will not comment further on specific legal arguments while the matter remains pending.
