Educating farmers on drone capabilities
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EmailUnmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, can help increase farm efficiency and minimize labor on Michigan farms.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, can help increase farm efficiency and minimize labor on Michigan farms. Michigan State University provides a variety of educational resources to help farmers determine how and if drone technology can benefit their operations. In the next two years, MSU will host six free two-day workshops to help growers develop an understanding of drone-based data collection specifically related to various commodities. MSU Extension, in partnership with Purdue University Extension and Ohio State University Extension, will host drone workshops covering information on drone options, software and data storage, FAA regulations, data ownership and crop scouting using precision agriculture.
During a recent visit to MSU, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was treated to a drone demonstration by MSU Foundation Professor Bruno Basso, an expert in precision agriculture. Basso uses the unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor large fields and collect data on farms across the Midwest.
- At the 2018 MSU Agriculture Innovation Day, experts in remote sensing and geographic information systems educated farmers on the benefits of drones.
- MSU senior geospatial analyst Robert Goodwin demonstrated drone technology applications and explained how to determine if drone technology is right for an operation.
