If Big Data was the topic du jour of the spring, drones are the buzz this summer. There have been regional sessions about them and the upcoming Dakotafest ag show will hold a day’s worth of workshops on drones on Aug 20. Drone captured attention in military use but the industry aims for expansion into the civilian world “and the agricultural sector is expected to play a large role in this expansion,” said the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The Federal Aviation Administration is working on rules for commercial use of drones.
“In some ways, (drone) technology is positioned where personal computer technology was in the late 1970s,” says the Noble Foundation – the equipment was expensive, difficult to use and provided few immediate benefits to owners. Drones are promoted as a way to scout fields. The Noble Foundation says there is a “lack of simple tools that can use sensor data to help producers make decisions.” Some exist for corn and soybeans, it says, with forage and rangeland tools likely to follow. “If (drones) follow a similar path as the PC, low cost and useful tools will come,” it conclues.
For the moment, some farmers are fascinated by drones and most don’t care according to an on-line poll at AgWeb. It asks, “What is your plan for drone use on your farm?” Of 945 responses, 6 percent said they already own a drone, 4 percent said they will buy one this year, 22 percent said they are waiting to see if they need one and 68 percent said they weren’t interested.