From conducting search and rescue missions to delivering packages, more and more industries are taking advantage of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, including agriculture.
For over six years, University of Maryland Extension (UME) researchers have been studying the various uses of drone technology for growers in Maryland, as well as the environmental and economic impacts it has on farm and nursery operations. These studies have also ushered in the excitement of a new UAV (or drone) school catered to growers, developed by Stanton Gill, Extension specialist in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Entomology at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center, and co-developed with David Clement, Extension specialist in Plant Pathology, and Andrew Ristvey, Extension specialist in commercial horticulture.
“Drones have so many applications and possibilities for the commercial horticulture industry in Maryland,” said Gill, who is leading the drive to explore the myriad applications of UAV including pest and weed management, soil and water quality monitoring, and even seeding fields. “We’re trying to move the industry forward with this technology.”
Partnering with Kirk Floyd, owner of Kdrone Services, UMD plant pathologist Karen Rane, and Brian Kunkel, University of Delaware Extension entomology specialist, Gill’s team conducted several field research trials for disease and insect control with measurable results, and have developed recommendations for numerous UAV functions. With more farmers and horticulturalists interested in employing drones in their own operations, Gill and Floyd began offering their “drone school” to help growers learn the basics of owning and flying a drone, as well as the process for licensing.
Held during the summer of 2022, the first series of classes included the mechanics of flying, regulatory information, resources for taking the FAA licensing exam, and hands-on opportunities for students to get a feel for flying. Beginning with a drone equipped only with a camera, Gill and his team were able to demonstrate that the remote imagery from a flyover could detect pests and disease on plants in outdoor nurseries and fields. Adding GPS capabilities to the setup allows the drone to provide a precise location of any noted pests. GPS also makes it possible for a flight plan to be programmed into the UAV to guarantee full coverage of a farm’s acreage.
But UAVs aren’t limited to observing; new drones can be retrofitted with supplemental devices, such as a hopper to disperse seeds for cover cropping, or sprayer nozzles for precise application of pesticides.
In working greenhouse operations, the team has shown dramatic reduction in the number of needed pesticide applications combined with rapid and relatively easy application of pesticides applied in a safe manner for the environment and the employees. “In conventional operations treating pests has involved workers manually dragging sprayer hoses, walking up and down rows, eight or nine times a year. They must wear PPE [personal protective equipment] in the heat of July and August, and they do this multiple times a year, being exposed to harmful chemicals,” said Gill.
Because the drone propellers direct the materials down onto the plant, the dispersal rate is lower—chemicals don’t spread out several feet in either direction, and there is significantly less exposure to the pesticides for workers, he said. “Even those farmers in a tractor, in a spray-safe cab, are still getting exposed, and anyone around is getting exposed. With this technology, you eliminate all of that.”
UAV technology is so precise that a drone can fly a flight path just a few feet over the field or crop, and disperse the exact amount of seed or pesticide, eliminating the issue of over-spraying or wasting product, helping to protect the surrounding environment, saving money for the grower, and eliminating dangerous and labor-intensive work for employees. “Labor is a big issue for Maryland farms and nurseries,” said Floyd, who is a professional arborist by trade and worked in pesticides before combining it with his love of remote-controlled vehicles. Now a professionally licensed UAV operator, Floyd works with Gill and the IPM team to determine the effectiveness of each new use for the technology in the horticulture industry. “I want to help people manage their labor and their operations better through this technology.”
“The use of drone technology for farming is constantly evolving,” Gill said. “It shows the breadth of uses that UAV has for the world of agriculture and the need for a program like our drone school for people interested in getting involved with this world.”
Class sizes are limited for students to receive more intense training and flight time. “We don’t administer the exam or issue licenses, but we can provide preliminary information and resources to help them learn how to move forward in this industry,” Gill said.
“I want to help change agriculture,” said Floyd. “I want to change the way we do the work. I want to get the next generation interested in horticulture through this technology.”
by Laura Wormuth : Momentum Winter 2023
