Grainswest - Tech 2024

Tech 2024 Grains West 14 THE FARMGATE PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING, and the high-flying bird’s-eye view provided by drones delivers plenty of it. Outfitted with state-of-the-art software augmented with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, drones are increasingly used for an impressive array of agricul- tural applications. Some of these are field ready, while others are at the research and development phase and may not be available to farmers for years. While full of promise, the use of drones in agriculture also faces hurdles, including regulatory approvals, technol- ogy lifespan and climate-related con- straints. SPRAYING A WORK IN PROGRESS Experts predict farmers may not be able to employ spray drones legally for a few more years until regulators and chem- ical companies complete the necessary research to support their use. Warren Bills is vice-president of business development with Precision AI. The Regina-headquartered startup aims to employ AI-equipped drones in spray application. A regulatory barrier remains in place as crop protection products are still being tested, proven and regulated for application by drone spraying, he said. “Even though there are similar droplet sizes and water volumes used in manned aerial application equipment, there’s still not a label to support similar use in drones. If something goes wrong or if the product doesn’t work, it’s hard for the manufacturers to stand behind the product’s performance because the research is still ongoing.” Researchers are at work to determine how drones can be used as effectively for product application as high clearance or aircraft sprayers, he emphasized. “Drift is a big concern. What we want to avoid is chemical being applied that gets drift- ed to the neighbour’s field, or your own for that matter, that causes more crop damage.” Whatdronescanandcan’tdo High-flying applications continue to evolve despite barriers Research to support drone spraying operations is now underway. Meanwhile, following a successful pilot project, a recently launched AFSC program uses drones for wildlife damage assessment in field crops.