Growers Should Stay Grounded When Reaching For Lofty Goals [Opinion]
January 20, 2015 
Paul Rusnak
Blood, sweat, dirt, more sweat, and a few tears are the main components farmers have used from the beginning of time to get the job done. As mechanization emerged and evolved, so have the tools of the trade and their application. These implements have made it progressively easier to plant, irrigate, harvest, and protect crops, thus allowing more time to redirect some of your other energies.
It appears modern technology is about to raise agriculture up another notch. Unmanned aerial vehicles (aka, UAVs; aka, drones) are en route to a field near you. These high-flying eyes in the sky, which have been employed by the government for some time for surveillance and research purposes, are leaving the slipstream for the mainstream.
Photo courtesy of UF/IFAS
Much gray area still clouds the friendly skies when it comes to proper operating procedure among the general public. Who knew something that resembles a remote-controlled toy would be subject to such scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration? Well, since any individual can now get their hands on these UAVs, which feature capabilities far beyond any “toy,” there is a call for better ground control — even if it’s just model aircraft fun.
Learning To Fly
While regulations get established and adapted for the newer fleet of fliers, researchers are aiming high. The multidisciplinary University of Florida-based Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Research Group is working on the development of a small UAS that is affordable and user-friendly for natural resource assessments and monitoring. Click here to learn more.
The group hosted a demo/presentation at the 2014 Florida Ag Expo. The turnout was impressive — especially given that it was scheduled during the second half of lunch. It takes a lot to drag a hungry crowd away from good BBQ. However, the chance to witness what could be the next wave of farming technology was enough to satisfy. As I looked around at those craning their necks to watch the drone ascend, swoop, and circle overhead, you could almost see the ideas swirling up from the collective group about the ways they can employ this Playstation-inspired recon on their farms.
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Probably the most prominent and logical plan of attack would involve what this kind of aircraft was originally designed for: surveillance. Scouting your crops could become a lot more efficient. Pest and disease problems could be nipped in the bud. A bad sprinkler head that might go undetected would be caught in the act. The possibilities widen depending on how sophisticated the equipment becomes and how adept you get at operating the craft. What kind of data can you extract and apply from the images you capture? The sky’s the limit … maybe.
Often, one must take a step back to get a better look at the big picture. UAVs, indeed, can get you that bird’s-eye view. However, you still need to get down and dirty to truly take advantage of any new technology. I’m interested to see if UAVs ultimately have a flight plan for farming. Better buckle up.
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