Agriculture Archives

Precision Agriculture: A Day on the Farm

Drones are often touted for their ability to benefit farmers through precision agriculture, but solving real-world problems requires a more carefully considered approach—and spinning propellers only represents a small fraction of the work to be done. Even within the professional uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) industry, there is a tendency to regard precision agriculture applications as […]

DroneSeed Replants Burned Forests

Seattle-based DroneSeed uses sUAS to reforest areas devastated by wildfires. Their 8-foot-span drones fly in groups of up to five drones, using preprogammed routes and dropping “seed vessels” into areas where they have the best chance of growing back. Each sUAS can carry as much as 57 pounds of seed vessels. DroneSeed CEO Grant Canary […]

Missing Cows Found by Drone

When a herd of cows mysteriously disappeared the quickest way to find them was to try to spot them from a bird’s-eye view. So the worried farmer turned to newly qualified drone pilot John Allcock to find the missing 100-strong herd. After all, every second was vital, especially if they had wandered onto roads. John’s […]

Making Money in Agriculture

In these terrific videos, the Roswell Flight Test Crew explores the use of drones in agriculture with Dr. Gregory Crutsinger of Scholar Farms. An ecologist by training, Greg worked previously as a professor at the University of British Columbia before moving to Silicon Valley to advance the use of drones in agriculture. He was employed […]

Intro to Multispectral Imaging

Originally developed for military target identification and reconnaissance, multispectral imaging uses specific wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to document environmental features of interest. Early NASA imaging of Earth from space incorporated multispectral imaging technology to map details related to oceans, landforms, and vegetation. More recently, modern weather satellites now produce diagnostic imagery using multispectral sensors. […]

Taking the Temperature of Cattle

Could drones help reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock? Researchers at Texas A&M University are hoping that using drones equipped with thermal cameras can take the temperature of herd animals to help monitor the health of cattle. Brent Auvermann, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Amarillo, said Monday afternoon […]

Drone Turns Scarecrow in Vineyard

Marauding birds can be a curse at wine vintage time, but a new counter measure in the form of a high-tech drone is being trialled in Hunter, Hilltops and Orange vineyards. Led by Sydney University School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering PhD candidate Zi Wang, the trial uses an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that […]

Barking Drones Replace Sheepdogs

The latest drone developments come as more farmers have started using the technology for work on the farm in recent years. Drone specialist from Christchurch-based DJI Ferntech, Adam Kerr, said the uptake in drones for agricultural uses had now made the National Agricultural Fieldays in Hamilton one of the biggest events in the company’s calendar. “The […]

Going Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)

Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is the most talked about concept in the commercial-drone world today—and for good reason. Many of the most lucrative opportunities for introducing drones into real-world commercial use are based on inspecting and gathering data over large swaths of land, such as railroads, utility lines, and farms that require autonomy. […]

Drone Insurance for Commercial Operations

When first starting out as a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator, many business owners and pilots do not know where to begin to locate an insurance provider. Many “standard” insurance companies do not insure—and may specifically exclude from their policies—an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). To properly insure your commercial operations, start by contacting aviation-specific […]