Eye in the sky for farmers
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones as they are commonly called, are proving useful in many ways. In the past, farmers would get information about the state of their fields by walking the entire area. Drones give a quick and easy overview. A computer program allows the user to map out the area to photograph, sends the information to the drone, and the drone flies over the area taking multiple photographs. The program then stitches together the images it sends back. Farmers can zoom in to see small details of their land, locating problem areas caused by factors like soil compaction or too much or too little water, fertilizer or other applications.
Beck's Hybrids Herbicide Specialist Jim Love says Beck's is ready to help customers set up their own equipment. "The battery will last for 25 minutes, which will let you cover about 100 acres," said Love. This technology is full of potential for agriculture and other situations. He said that while using drones for delivery is not yet possible, they can be sent into burning houses, crime scenes or dangerous areas to provide visual information while keeping people safe.
|
 |
 Learning about run-off and water quality
River View High School Agriculture Education students recently learned about water sheds, run-off, and water quality in an interactive activity. Deb Bigelow of the Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District was the guest presenter. Bigelow used the run-off model to help students learn how watersheds work and the impact of interactions between humans and the natural world. She modeled the effects of fertilizer on soil and water systems, erosion from agricultural areas, and point and non-point pollution that can impact our community. - How does the production of corn affect water quality?
- How is water quality tested?
|
|
 What does soil need? We spoke with Jeff Goodbar, agronomy sales director for Trupointe Cooperative, at the Farm Science Review. Truepointe, one of Ohio Corn Education's industry contacts, is an agricultural and energy cooperative serving 4,100 members through several locations in Ohio and Indiana. The cooperative does site-specific agronomy work on member's farms, analyzing soil samples and developing a "prescription" based on the analysis and yield goals. This Prescription Management plan helps farms become more profitable through increased production and cost savings. Knowing how much nitrogen and fertilizer to apply and where to apply it helps the environment, too. "Over-application leads to a greater likelihood of run-off issues," said Goodbar. By applying fertilizer and soil treatments at the right time, rate, and place, farmers can work to prevent that problem. - How is farming a system?
- What are the inputs (fertilizer, pesticide, seed) and outputs (crop yield, emissions, runoff)?
- What impact does soil as a storage have on the consequences of these inputs and outputs?
|
|
|
|
