Glacier FarmMedia – Spray drone technology is rapidly evolving, but regulations that allow drones to apply crop protection products are struggling to get off the ground. The Remotely Piloted Aerial Application System (RPAAS) working group was formed to help connect individuals and organizations that are generating the data required to make drone applications legal in […] Read more
Tag Archives drones — page 2
Drone spraying still grounded by rules
Many producers see drones as a lower-cost alternative but a full set of rules are needed before widespread use can occur
Drones and helicopters make fitting pair
Company says demand for helicopter spray applications growing in Ontario
Helicopters have been a part of agriculture since the mid-20th century. But given advances in drone and satellite technology, are helicopters still a viable and popular production tool? Yes, says Stan Mace, pilot and agriculture division manager for Waterloo-based air services company Great Lakes Helicopter (GLH). He sees drones as a complementary tool. Why it […] Read more
Partnership gives Prairie ag students new 800-acre opportunity
Saskatchewan farmland bequest expanded Smart Farm eastward
Students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Olds College will be getting more opportunities to collaborate with each other on a large scale. The two institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which entails both schools working together for five years on various programs, notably Olds College’s Smart Farm operation. The partnership comes as a result […] Read more
Automated ag skills program developed for Saskatchewan workforce
Protein supercluster, U of S supporting non-profit agency's program
Corrected, May 24 — A national skills-building organization focused on connecting employers with “untapped” labour markets sets its webcams this summer on the automated and digital ag sectors. Not-for-profit organization Palette Skills has launched a new eight-week online program for Saskatchewan residents focused on automation and digitization in agricultural production and processing. The enrolment deadline […] Read more
Can drones replace self-propelled spraying equipment?
Drones can help improve product application and provide better results
Drones are quickly becoming a preferred tool for growers across the globe. Some drones offer high-concentration, small-volume spraying technology with the same efficacy of coverage as typical agricultural equipment, allowing producers to use less product. As well, the flight ability and down-facing fan action allow growers to ensure timely applications independent of soil conditions, with […] Read more
Drone tech’s next big target? Insect pest management
Science Notes: There are multiple potential future applications for drone tech in the works
Drones keep getting smaller and smaller, while their potential applications keep getting bigger and bigger. And now unmanned aircraft systems are taking on some of the world’s biggest small problems: insect pests. From crop-munching caterpillars to disease-transmitting mosquitoes, insects that threaten crops, ecosystems, and public health are increasingly being targeted with new pest-management strategies that […] Read more
How to get drones into fields, doing useful work
The value of the tech has often been oversold, despite potential for useful applications on farms
For some ag-tech enthusiasts both, realizing the full potential of drones on farms and ranches requires a better overall understanding of the technology’s limitations in agricultural systems, as well as less marketing misdirection. The financial and time commitments required to accrue, process and act on drone-derived data has been a significant barrier to achieving the […] Read more
Drones and AI detect soybean maturity with high accuracy
Science notes: The technology could greatly reduce the need for boots on the ground
Walking rows of soybeans in the midsummer heat is an exhausting but essential chore in breeding new cultivars. Researchers brave the heat daily during crucial parts of the growing season to look for plants showing desirable traits such as early pod maturity. But without a way to automate detection of these traits, breeders can’t test […] Read more
Drone program improves agronomic precision
Drones becoming widespread tool for crop health assessment
A new drone initiative at Corteva Agriscience, called Drone Deploy, helps growers locate problem areas in-field early on to assist in maximizing yields. Why it matters: New technologies have to prove themselves and software is making drones more useful each year. Corteva Flight is the first of several software options accessible by Pioneer customers. Dave […] Read more
Multi-band imaging system offers more detail
More image bands means more chance of creating a useful data set
Glacier FarmMedia – An imaging system for drones that offers 10 spectral bands has recently been released by MicaSense, a Seattle-based developer of multispectral imaging hardware. The use of additional different red edge bands can enable users to hone in on different plant canopies to get a better idea of what’s going on in that […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
