Video: How drones are helping farmers manage weeds
At a glance: In this video, K-State Research and Extension weed management specialist Sarah Lancaster explains how drones are being used to help farmers control weeds in their fields.
More information: Sarah Lancaster, 785-532-7240, slancaster@ksu.edu
Related: What You Should Know About Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | K-State Department of Agronomy | K-State Research and Extension weed management
K-State Research and Extension news service
In this video, K-State Research and Extension weed management specialist Sarah Lancaster explains how drones are being used to help farmers control weeds in their fields.
“One area we are using drones is in spraying crops, but the other that is probably a little more common is for use in scouting fields,” Lancaster said.
Drones can scout fields at a relatively low cost, and the imagery can be used to determine precision spraying strategies.
“What we’re finding is that, by and large, drone imagery does a good job of classifying those areas of the field (of low, medium and high weed density) correctly,” Lancaster said.
When using drones for spraying fields, she said, “one of the limitations is the carrying capacity of that spray drone. So, where the technology in the industry stands right now, we need to be thinking more in terms of using drones for very targeted applications.”
The full video is available online at https://youtu.be/zXcFkCrKGy4.
K-State Research and Extension video by Dan Donnert
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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.