drones Archives - Page 3 of 4

Drone provides a new field perspective

Ground truthing is still important, but drones can identify problem areas

By Lee Hart February 12, 2020

Randi Wenzel says even basic operation of a drone over annual crops and pastures on their south-central Saskatchewan mixed farm provides some very useful management information, along with some peace of mind. Wenzel, who farms with family members south of Central Butte, has been flying a drone during the cropping and grazing seasons for the […] Read more

A spray plane flies over a swarm of desert locusts at Lemasulani village in Kenya’s Samburu County on Jan. 17, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Njeri Mwangi)

Crops, Machinery, Reuters, Weather

Drones to be tested against Africa’s locust swarms

U.N.'s FAO testing drones to detect, spray pests

By GFM Network News February 11, 2020

Nairobi | Thomson Reuters Foundation — The United Nations is to test drones equipped with mapping sensors and atomizers to spray pesticides in parts of east Africa battling an invasion of desert locusts that are ravaging crops and exacerbating a hunger crisis. Hundreds of millions of the voracious insects have swept across Ethiopia, Somalia and […] Read more

A drone equipped with a camera can be used to check remote watering systems, scan fencelines or check gates.

Columns, Hart Attacks

Drones. How did we farm without them?

Hart Attacks: Drone school explained how flying cameras can change the cattle business

By Lee Hart December 11, 2019

I know I shouldn’t be amazed by anything that has to do with new technology, but it seems I always am. I recently spent part of a day at a central Alberta drone school —primarily geared to beef producers — and came away thinking it just never ends. So there I was in a community […] Read more

Thompson Rivers University student Chris Solecki testing out a drone which columnist Roy Lewis says can play a practical role in livestock management.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Using new technology to monitor cattle

Animal Health: Stationary cameras and drones can be used in many ways 

By Roy Lewis March 20, 2019

Technology has advanced for monitoring the health of cattle both at calving time and on pasture. Two operations I deal with during the calving season have used advanced cameras in the last several years. I have also seen demonstrations and heard a few presentations on drones for checking and monitoring cattle. It appears to be […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

Walmart patents hint at future where its drones tend the farms

By GFM Network News March 15, 2018

New York/Chicago | Reuters — Walmart’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Climate Corp. to partner with Canadian drone data firm

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 27, 2017

In a bid to bring its eye-in-the-sky views of clients’ fields closer to Earth, Monsanto’s Climate Corp. has struck up a partnership with a Canadian drone data provider. Climate on Nov. 15 announced an “official” partnership with Toronto-based Deveron UAS, which operates a fleet of drones serving farm clients across North America, to deliver “advanced” […] Read more

Farmers Edge is partnering with Planet, the company with the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites, to bring farmers satellite images of fields several times a week. (Submitted image)

Crops, Machinery

Farmers Edge expands satellite imagery offering

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News October 11, 2017

Farmers Edge says it’s making satellite imagery a practical and affordable agronomic tool for farmers through a new strategic partnership with Planet, the company with the largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. “We think this will be game-changing,” Farmers Edge president and CEO Wade Barnes said in an interview Oct. 3. “I think it’s going to […] Read more

Livestock, Machinery

Federal rules tightened for recreational drone use

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News March 16, 2017

Citing recent “reckless use of drones that is putting the safety of Canadians at risk,” the federal government has set up new temporary rules limiting where and when drones can be flown for the heck of it. Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Thursday announced an interim order with new rules for the recreational operation of […] Read more

Matthew Johnson of M3 Aerial Productions with the UAVs his company uses to capture images to determine hay crop quality.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Drone image reveals best cutting day

Infrared aerial photo technology senses when alfalfa quality is prime

By Angela Lovell September 9, 2016

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) and M3 Aerial Productions are teaming up to investigate whether unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — also known as drones — can be used to enhance the MFGA’s Green Gold Program, which provides producers with the best first-cut date for alfalfa crops. The MFGA offers the Green Gold program, which […] Read more

The Solo AGCO Edition UAV was introduced last August.

Machinery

Flying Solo: the new AGCO craft

AGCO takes to the air, introducing its own UAV designed for field scouting

By Scott Garvey December 7, 2015

In August AGCO surprised a few people by introducing its own UAV, the Solo AGCO Edition, which is a rotary craft designed for field scouting. “We thought through everything a farmer needs to not only scout their fields, but also collect useful data beneficial to managing their farm and improving yields and efficiency,” says Jeff […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News