Drones Increase Kansas Farmers’ Efficiency and Productivity
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It wasn’t long ago that a small black dot hovering over a Kansas cornfield would stop people in their tracks. But over the past decade, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, have become a common and welcome sight on farms across the state.
That’s because today’s drone technology can give farmers a peek into their fields without the time- and labor-intensive practice of actually having to walk them, often in 100-degree heat. The data the drones gather provides important information about the health of their crops and much more.
See more: How Drones are Improving Farming Operations
“Drone technology helps producers be successful by providing imagery of fields that gives them information they can use to make decisions on how best to manage their operation,” says Weston McCary, the technology projects coordinator for the Kansas Water Office.
His office established the Water Technology Farms program in 2016 and will soon launch the Water Innovation Systems and Education Initiative (WISE), which showcases water-conserving agricultural practices. Both programs make extensive use of UAS.
“Drones allow farmers to assess the condition of their crops from drought or irrigation issues, and that helps them manage water needs and efficiencies,” he explains. “For instance, some drones are equipped with thermal technology that can detect subsurface leaks in an irrigation system, so they can be fixed before they become a big issue.”
Water management is just one of several important benefits drones deliver to Kansas producers, say McCary and Spencer Schrader, UAS flight operations manager for Kansas State University’s Aerospace and Technology campus in Salina.
Drones and Drones
“The technology allows farmers to map their field down to the centimeter of accuracy rather than the tens of feet of accuracy available through other means, like Google Earth,” Schrader says. “That can be very helpful in designing terraces, for instance. Drones can also be equipped with near-infrared photo capabilities that allow farmers to determine what areas of the field are stressed from disease proliferation or drought so they can take steps to rectify it.”
“Drones also provide images that can be used with software to provide intensive analytical stand counts,” McCary says. “It gives producers information on how many seeds have germinated, so they can get an idea of what kind of yield they can expect.”
See more: Ag-Based Education Programs Prepare Students for Careers
The technology can also assess crop damage from hail and wind, for instance, which can be important in determining insurance claims. And if that’s not enough, says Schrader, they can be used for spot spraying in sensitive or targeted areas, for monitoring cattle during calving season, and for assessing maintenance issues, such as leaks in center-pivot irrigation systems.
Like any tool, users get the most out of drone technology when they know how best to use it. That includes knowing the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulations for operating drones, including never flying them above 400 feet or over moving vehicles or people who are not part of the operation. That’s why K-State offers the training needed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s licensing requirements for flying drones as well as additional courses on operating them.
“Through half-day and multiday classes, producers have the benefit of flight training and expertise that allow them to make the most effective and complete use of the technology,” Schrader says.