By this time next year, farmers might be scouting fields from the sky looking for signs that the crop is ready to harvest or needs another week.
Then again, they might not.
The Federal Aviation Administration has set September 2015 as the earliest date that commercial users like farmers or crop consultants might be allowed to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in their business. Until then, only researchers, the federal government and hobbyists can fly the small planes.
“FAA is trying to develop rules, and it is very important,” said John Fulton, a professor and extension specialist at Auburn University.
Fulton and other experts tout AUVs as the next big development in precision agriculture, and industry seems to agree.
Trimble released its first UAV in January. The UX5 unmanned aircraft system would allow farmers and agriculture consultants to scout for pests, weeds and nitrogen deficiencies from the sky, as well as monitor overall crop health, locate livestock and better understand topography. With FAA rules still a year away and a $50,000 price on the equipment, Trimble was positioning itself to be the leader in the next type of precision agriculture.
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