How can drones be used on farms?

How can drones be used on farms?

9 ways drones improve farm processes.

Drones are not only helping to implement processes in agriculture and livestock farming, they are changing them entirely. If you have a farm and a large area of land that needs to be looked after, farmed and analyzed regularly, it's worth thinking about whether you are doing this in the best way possible. Drones will help you save money, monitor how your farm is developing and take adequate measures when need be.

You've probably worked hard to achieve everything you have, but that doesn't mean you should waste time, resources and energy. With drones, you can afford to look at your business from a different perspective and take your farm processes to a new level.

We'll take a closer look at the ways drones can help you optimize your farm processes.

1. High-resolution mapping for field surveys

An agricultural drone can take hundreds or even thousands of photos that it can tag with geodata and GPS coordinates. The collected geodata can be used to make a high-resolution orthomosaic map. This way you will be able to see your entire field on your computer or tablet.

The map will give you a better view of the crops. Thanks to the software in drones, all the pictures you took during the flight can be assembled, and you can get important information about your farm.

2. Fast and economical crop scouting

If you have to scout your entire farm, you generate a large amount of expense that you may not even realize. Consider that you will need trucks or tractors, fuel for them, and if you have to survey on foot, it will take a long time. Whatever option you choose, the likelihood that you will end up missing an important detail is high. Drones will help you see the whole picture without wasting time and without hiring extra workers for the inspection. Heavy machinery can damage your crops. Fly over the fields and quickly reach the point that interests you.

3. Precision farming

Every plant can be inspected, no matter where it is in the field. If you have to go in person to check the condition of every plant in your crop, not only will it take too much time and energy, but you are likely to damage or miss some. Drone cameras capture high-resolution footage so you don't miss any important details and waste time and resources.

4. Fast pest detection

Pests can ruin your crops very quickly, so you shouldn't underestimate these problems that you almost certainly face as a farm owner. A drone will help you detect the problem from the start and take timely action.

5. Slope, drainage, irrigation

Thanks to their high-tech cameras, drones can capture and provide information on the land's condition, like slope, drainage capability, and where irrigation is needed. The thermal cameras show in “warm” colors where the ground is dry and in “cold” colors where the ground is wet, so you can control the irrigation processes according to the crop needs.

The drones also work with software that can form a three-dimensional image of the ground. So you can see where the low points are that are not suitable for drainage and the slope of the field.

6. Livestock monitoring

With drones you can monitor where and how your cattle are moving, even if they are at a distance from your farm. You can also search for a lost animal much more quickly and easily from the air. Monitor your herd and detect problems at the earliest stage.

Especially if you have a large herd of animals, this requires you to hire many workers. But even this is no guarantee that every animal will be checked regularly to see if it is healthy. With drones, you will control the processes affecting your farm and be informed if the workers are taking the necessary care.

7. Asset inspection

Inspect your assets regularly to avoid missing important assets for your farm. Standard inspection methods are time-consuming, resource-intensive and can even be dangerous for workers. Drones can help you perform the inspection efficiently and safely. Check the condition of the buildings where you store your produce to keep it in good condition.

8. Crop damage assessment

In agriculture, it is not uncommon for crops to suffer damage due to storms. After such a disaster, the damage is sometimes extensive, and you need to understand the gravity of the situation quickly. A drone will help you fly over your property and see all the damage to take adequate measures. If you have crop insurance, you can submit the footage through your insurer to get fair compensation.

9. Crop spraying

With agricultural drones, you can achieve precise spraying of your crops quickly and safely. Even if the terrain you have is difficult to access, it won't be a problem for a drone. The drone can also help if you only need to spray a particular area of the field.

By using drones, you will take your farm processes to a new level. Get more and timely information about your farm to achieve greater yields.

COPTER.BG offers DJI agricultural and industrial drones at competitive prices. Contact our team to help you find the most optimal solution for your farm.