Long Range (LoRa) wireless communication is widely regarded as a promising physical layer for smart farming applications due to its long communication range and low power consumption. However, published range figures are frequently obtained under idealized or urban conditions and do not reliably predict performance in open agricultural terrain, where crop canopy, tree lines, and undulating topography introduce additional attenuation. This paper presents an empirical performance evaluation and range analysis of a LoRa-based communication link for smart farming, using a SX1276-based end node and gateway deployed across open-field and partially obstructed farmland over distances from 0 to 3000 m. Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) were measured across three spreading factors (SF7, SF9, SF12) to characterize the range–reliability–data-rate trade-off relevant to field deployment. A log-distance path loss model was fitted to the measured RSSI data to enable range prediction for future deployments. Results show that SF12 sustains a packet delivery ratio above 90% up to approximately 1800 m in open-field conditions, compared to approximately 700 m for SF7, at the cost of significantly longer airtime and higher energy consumption per packet. Obstructed segments incorporating tree lines reduced the reliable range by 30–40% relative to open line-of-sight paths. These findings provide practical spreading-factor and gateway-placement guidance for designing energy-efficient, reliable LoRa-based sensor networks for real-world smart farming deployments.