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Specialists will discuss how military drones could help agriculture.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

September 14, 2012

2 Min Read

The Ohio Farm Science Review kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 18 and runs through Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Molly Caren farm operated by Ohio State University. The farm show site is just off I-70 near London, Ohio.

One of the interesting aspects of this year's show is that Ohio State specialists will discuss how drones could integrate into the world of agriculture. Developed for the military, these unmanned vehicles have been used for tactical maneuvers thought too dangerous for military personnel. They are airborne objects that enter into aviation airspace.

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The fact that there are dangerous jobs in agriculture goes without question. However, specialists see the first use for these drones to do jobs like grab pictures of crop fields and deliver information related to the weather and weather events. The work is preliminary, but the specialists believe there is enough potential to test these drones for agricultural applications. They could fit well with the continuing move toward more accurate GPS and precision farming.

Since the drones enter air space, they are regulated. So far no one but the military has the ability to actually use the drones on missions, or to fly them into air space. However, some universities are seeking special permission from federal authorities to work with the drones in air space.  If granted, it would be for test programs to see how these drones might work in agriculture, and if there would be any negatives to using them in agricultural work.

Ohio State University hopes to be involved in testing new uses for these drones. One use may be to gather data on locations of hazardous waste sites. The beauty of the drones is that they can fly and take pictures without having anyone aboard. Most of them are small in size.

This is just one of the new concepts that will be featured this week. Cost to attend the show is $8 per adult with children 5 and under free. Those with access to an Ohio State University Extension office can purchase pre-sale tickets for $5.

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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