Drones are the future of agriculture
The use of drones in agriculture is on the rise in the Top of the South. Farmers, growers, and lifestylers are realising the benefits and improved efficiency agricultural drones can offer for tasks such as weed control, crop spraying, seeding, and roof maintenance. “A recent job I did really showed how beneficial the accuracy of Agri drones can be to a landowner,” Agri Drone Specialist owner-operator Alex Wilkinson explains.
“We had a drone out spraying grey willows on a wetland that a chopper had sprayed for the last few years. A drone can spot spray at a similar speed as a chopper and with centimetre automated accuracy with a pre-built spay plan but without chewing through costly fuel so, it was far more cost-effective.”
Alex, who has a background as a fixed-wing pilot, some years ago heard an interview on the radio about wilding pines being sprayed with drones in central Otago, sparking an interest in him which he decided to investigate. “I had used drones for land surveying and data analysis so I started looking into drones for Agri use and straight away could see what could be possible,” he says.
Any drone over 25 kilos falls into the Civil Aviation Authority Part 102 classification, then the application process becomes extensive and, with Alex’s drone being 100 kilos, it took around two years from first investigations, then jumping through the necessary processes and paperwork, to being in a position to be able to offer Agri drone services to landowners.
“Agri drones offer highly effective weed spraying solutions, especially of invasive plants like gorse, old man’s beard, blackberry, thistles, and wilding pines. Drones can quickly cover steep terrain and inaccessible areas,” Alex explains.
Alex says that each farm and project is different and that’s where customised solutions deliver great outcomes for the landowner. “We usually map the area with a smaller drone and then build a spray plan on the computer, targeting the weeds with pinpoint accuracy but leaving any pasture or trees that don’t need to be sprayed,” Alex says.
“A drone can cover large areas in a day, and since they work lower down than conventional aerial methods there is less spray drift, using less chemicals and leaving natives and pasture unaffected.”
“I enjoy being outdoors and working with landowners to find cost-saving solutions, and being able to offer an effective alternative to traditional spraying methods,” Alex explains. “The future of drones is an exciting industry to be in. The technology is rapidly evolving and so are the possibilities of who it can benefit.”