Farmers who are looking for better ways to monitor their crops or survey several acres of land will need to consider the possibilities of using agricultural drones.  Drones are getting more popular with each passing day and many businesses are starting to reap the benefits of these robotic devices. In construction, architecture, engineering, transportation and many more industries, drones have become a mainstay. One of the biggest places that this technology will be useful is in farming and agriculture.

President of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (Coastal plains chapter) John Perry and representatives from the University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture, gave an all-day presentation on how to use drones in agriculture.  The explained that precision agriculture will allow farmers to inspect their crops and look for damage, spray fertilizer or pesticides, and detect nitrogen levels more efficiently.

The FAA revised its regulations on small unmanned aircraft two years ago, which has enabled UAVs weighing less than 55 pounds to fly up to 400 feet. Because of this welcoming change, smart precision farming can take a giant leap into the future.  Since this regulation was revised, there’s been a massive growth in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture. And as the technology advances, so are the new set of service providers who are offering more than the basic drone services.

There are now advanced methods of evaluating crops and improving the treatments offered.  COO of Skyraider Aeronautics, Daniel Knaul, visited several Georgia farms after Hurricane Irma hit last September. He wanted to assess the damage caused by the storm so the data could be transmitted to the United States Department of Agriculture for insurance purposes.

The assessment was supposed to cover several large farms. Like one, which was a 2,000-acre farm that had about 1,800 cows on the property. The only way to view all 2000 acres was by using drones.  During the assessment, Skyraider Aeronautics’ drones were used to check for erosion caused by the storm and to pinpoint soil changes down to an inch.

Drones for agriculture are an emerging area that can help farmers run more efficient farms. Many farmers don’t know a lot about the technology, but hopefully, as more presentations and sessions are held on how to use drones for precision farming, the knowledge will be shared and interests will grow. No matter the type of drones used in agriculture, Perry noted that education and knowledge are what will help the industry understand how to use drones safely and to their full benefit. He is hoping to bridge the gap and show the value of drones technology to farmers and growers in the US.

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