Opinion: Drone regulations ground valuable farming technology

Nov 28, 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicles — drones — are a part of many farm futures. From field and pasture reconnaissance to application of pesticides, the ability to see land without setting foot on it offers many advantages that can improve the bottom line.

Technology is developing faster than the regulations that guide operations, as is usually the case, so there’s a risk that producers will put the tools to work before the rules are ready. Liability issues are only some of the negative effects possible should accidents occur ahead of regulation. Guidelines are needed that encourage UAV use rather than stifle it.

Current aerial regulations weren’t designed for larger, utility machines that work on their own. Today’s rules were aimed at tiny machines that pose little peril when kept away from larger aircraft and from humans on the ground. And even those are evolving as the technology improves.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.