<p>Dennis Bowman, a crop sciences educator at the University of Illinois Extension, is using an unexpected technology for farming - Drones. <B>Check out this cool video showing just how this technology can be used!</b></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><iframe width="480" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Y_zzWBQR5nA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"Standard pictures and video taken with drones can tell us a lot," Bowman said in a University of Illinois press release. "But what we're looking to give us even more information is multispectral cameras that can give us imagery in other wavelengths, such as near-infrared, to <B> help us identify areas of crop stress. </b> It probably isn't going to tell us what the problem is, but it will tell us where problems are so that we can target our scouting in those specific areas and determine what might be occurring."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/drones060614bdy.jpg" alt="cropped_image_060514" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Since last fall, Bowman has been using two drones. They are both multi-rotor helicopters equipped with a Canon Powershot SX260 to photograph the crops. He presented is research at the <B> 2014 Ford/Iroquois County Agronomy Day meeting </b> where both researchers and farmers were present.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Bowman used two specific drones for his research. One is a remote-controlled Phantom manufactured by DJI, and the other is an A.R. Drone 2.0 with GPS produced by the French wireless electronics manufacturer Parrot, according to Science World Report. Farmers are likely going to be <B> drawn to the simplicity </b> of them.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The Parrot can be operated using either a smartphone or tablet, and the remote-controlled Phantom establishes a home position by locking onto GPS satellites when it turns on and returns within one meter of that position when it is turned off.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Drones have a lot of <B> potential applications in agriculture </b> beyond just taking photos. They could be outfitted with chemical applicators and sensors capable of monitoring numerous aspects of crop health and development. Additional proposed uses include pollinating, planting and harvesting. Even if a drone only provides an aerial view of fields, this would still provide a tremendous benefit for some growers. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Using drones for farming won’t be a reality at least 2015 when the FAA is expected to release their <B> new policies </b> on unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Bowman’s news release. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"If the FAA rules come through, and the price of the technology comes down, it doesn't seem all that far-fetched to me to think that not too far in the future a farmer will get up in the morning, hit a button and launch a couple drones that fly out over his farms and collect imagery that's sent wirelessly to his office," Bowman said. "And one of the first things he could do at the beginning of the day is sit down and scan his fields to see if anything has happened that needs his attention."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>While it is unclear how drones will ultimately affect agriculture and farming, it is good to know that innovations are in the works. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned for AndNowUKnow for new stories on this emerging technology. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
