K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
Otago South River Care is holding a field day today and tomorrow on a farm in Balclutha with over 80 people expected to attend.
Group co-ordinator Rebecca Begg said catchment group members often talk about innovation on farms and drones keep coming up as something farmers want to try.
"Many are interested but aren't ready to take the leap yet, so we want to show them what's available and get some of the technology down to the South Island as most of it is based in the North Island."
Drone company Ferntech and contract spraying company Aerial Agri Solutionz will showcase their drones.
Begg said there is a growing list of how drones can be used on farms.
"You've got your standard drones, which you can use for inspection purposes so either looking for stock or checking troughs. You can get drones with speakers on them which people call barking drones so those are used for mustering.
"We've got a thermal drone that's coming out of Auckland, that can be used for pest management and spray drones which can be used for spot and blanket spraying particularly in smaller areas that you can't get to with a helicopter."
Begg said farmers are embracing the technology.
"I think there's a lot of things at the moment that are making farmers look at how they can do things more efficiently and also in a more sustainable sort of way, especially when you look at things like the price of diesel and fuel.
"Technology is becoming integrated into farming practices now and there's just so many things drones can help with."
Continue reading: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/466396/farmers-keen-to-embrace-diverse-uses-of-drones-in-rural-setting
Group co-ordinator Rebecca Begg said catchment group members often talk about innovation on farms and drones keep coming up as something farmers want to try.
"Many are interested but aren't ready to take the leap yet, so we want to show them what's available and get some of the technology down to the South Island as most of it is based in the North Island."
Drone company Ferntech and contract spraying company Aerial Agri Solutionz will showcase their drones.
Begg said there is a growing list of how drones can be used on farms.
"You've got your standard drones, which you can use for inspection purposes so either looking for stock or checking troughs. You can get drones with speakers on them which people call barking drones so those are used for mustering.
"We've got a thermal drone that's coming out of Auckland, that can be used for pest management and spray drones which can be used for spot and blanket spraying particularly in smaller areas that you can't get to with a helicopter."
Begg said farmers are embracing the technology.
"I think there's a lot of things at the moment that are making farmers look at how they can do things more efficiently and also in a more sustainable sort of way, especially when you look at things like the price of diesel and fuel.
"Technology is becoming integrated into farming practices now and there's just so many things drones can help with."
Continue reading: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/466396/farmers-keen-to-embrace-diverse-uses-of-drones-in-rural-setting
