Drones are becoming an increasingly common sight over Victorian farms and a presentation at the Koroit Agricultural Field Day on February 22 will encourage more farmers to “think outside the box”.
During the field day’s innovation technical presentations and workshops, Webber and Chivell drone manager Rhys Baxter will show how drone monitoring can be used for farm mapping or increasing productivity in both dairy and crop production.
There will also be a display of drones and their support equipment.
Mr Baxter said drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), could save money for farmers and be better for the environment.
“Drones can do a lot for the ag sector,” he said. “Most farmers are still using traditional methods but drones can be used for mapping, spreading, seeding and spraying, and they’re particularly helpful in a wet environment or in steep, inaccessible terrains.”
Mr Baxter said farmers could save money and help the environment by using drones.
“They create efficiencies, especially with mapping before chemical applications,” he said. “Aerial management and field mapping with drones provides you with precise data on acreages. Forecasting yields is possible with UAVs.”
“They’re also safer that you’re not sending people into hills to access difficult areas.”
The company does a lot of blackberries and weed control in hard-to-reach territories and is constantly expanding its use of drones in agricultural settings.
“The technologies improve every day,” Mr Baxter said. “There’s talk of 100-litre drones coming out in a couple of years; double the size of what we can carry now.”
Mr Baxter urged farmers to “think outside the box” when it comes to drone technology. “It’s not only spraying; they can spread as well,” he said. “Drones can navigate through crops, such as maize and potatoes, with greater ease than conventional equipment, leading to increased yields with decreased inputs.
“With drone spraying, up to 40 percent of time can be saved compared to conventional methods. Intelligent spray nozzles increase the reach and improve precise targeting.”
The Koroit field day will feature more than 45 exhibitors, including tractors, contracting and irrigation equipment, dairy innovation and feed and pasture companies. The event will cover all agricultural fields with a special focus on dairy.