Drones Draw Interest to Crop Scouting and Other New Farm Management Uses
Targeted News Service |
Remote sensors can play a big part of farming in the future. Those sensors can be on a 10-foot pole or a satellite 250 miles out in space.
The sensors of most interest at an agriculture technology fair,
"Remote sensors offer amazing potential in data collection for farmers, people who advise farmers and scientists," said
A technology-packed day at
It was pictures from drones that drew gee-whiz comments.
"Everyone who sees a drone thinks of new uses," Wiebold said. "As an agronomist, I thought about improved scouting of crops for weeds, insects or fertility.
"When I show these to beef farmers, they see ways to track their herds. When Bootheel farmers saw them, they thought of checking irrigation rigs."
Checking with drones to see if water pipes are flowing would save lots of walking. Seeing when crops need water does have commercial value, Wiebold said, but farmers gain personal enjoyment from doing a good job.
Wiebold spent much of his talk on new limitations imposed by
"The latest rules are more restrictive, not less so," Wiebold said. "Learn the rules and abide by them. We want to keep airspaces safe. Like the
Recreational use by hobbyists is less restricted, he said.
"Slow clarification of rules for use on farms is frustrating, frankly."
Wiebold says his membership in the
"Prior to recent rule changes, farmers used model-aircraft drones on their own property as long as they did not invade privacy of others."
Wiebold showed videos, made before the restrictions, of his long-term Bradford research plots. "I gained a new perspective on what no-till ground looks like," he said.
Aerial observation could save lots of time for graduate students checking and recording their research projects, he added.
All of his pictures were taken under 400 feet in the air.
Wiebold advised learning to fly a drone using an inexpensive model. "It's different to crash a
Satellite infrared photos of soybean fields reveal more information than pictures by cameras limited to visible light.
An infrared picture of a field showed an unexplained dead spot, unseen from the ground. That was determined to be the site of a lightning strike.
Aerial images lead to "directed scouting." Pictures pinpoint where to go for an up-close look. "Without photos, you would never see those areas."
Wiebold said he has promoted intense scouting of corn and soybean fields for years. "When crop farmers see these videos, they become interested in scouting." Aerial scouting seems easier than getting lost in a field of tall corn.
Those at extension meetings on drones get excited about what they learn, Wiebold said. "I'm accused of being a salesperson for drones. I have no financial interest.
"I've had listeners at meetings go online and buy a drone while I'm still talking about them. Remote sensors are useful and available. It's a matter of what platform delivers them best."
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