Drones: Selective effective application

DAYTON - Like every industry, farming has changed significantly through the new technologies. Last year, "The Times" accompanied local wheat farmer Deborah Fortner to a field she was analyzing using a spray drone.

Fortner won a DJI multispectral surveying drone at a Spray Drone End User Conference. She learned how to fly, land, and use the software for the new drone-using it to analyze the fields she farms. Though she saw the potential, she found the technology lacked the functionality that she wanted at the time.

Checking in with her a year later, and she now has a second drone and new software. Attending the next SDEU conference on Zoom, she was introduced to Agremo, a company that developed an agriculture platform and data analysis software using AI. The software features a variable-rate spraying tool that analyzes aerial imagery from Fortner's drones to calculate the exact locations and percentage of land that requires weed control.

The software works in conjunction with her spray drone to perform precise spraying and treatment of the affected areas, effectively reducing pesticide costs.

The drone allows her to reach areas, including eyebrows, that would be difficult or dangerous for her crew to handle on land. With the AI-driven software, weed control has become more effective with the drones, though maybe not completely efficient.

"Nothing about drones is efficient," said Fortner. "I describe it as a selective, effective application."

Drones have struck power lines, hills, and other obstacles. They can have software glitches or limited tank capacity. Fortner said drones are improving as they learn to navigate obstacles, and in this area, learning to deal with crops grown on hills.

There are regulations and skills that drone operators must follow. In Washington, Fortner must undergo a health check every six months to maintain her license. It is an investment in time and resources to understand and comply with rules regarding airspace, safety, and pilot certifications.

Watching Fortner pilot her drone last year, it was clear that she saw its potential and was having fun developing her piloting skills.