The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2020 - Issue 66 | Page 53

MACHINERY 53
• DEC/JAN 2020
DRONE REGULATIONS EXPLAINED
FARMERS are being
urged to fully understand
the legal implications
of drone use and seek
training ahead of new 2020
regulations.
New regulations
published on 21st June by
the Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) will require farmers
to become more aware
of how to deploy drones
on their land. However,
despite having been pub-
lished, the EU unmanned
aircraft regulations will not
come into effect until July
2020. This gives farmers
and other operators the
opportunity to prepare for
the proposed changes to
drone use.
Cranfield University
is a leader in aerospace
research and the use of
drones in agriculture.
Through the Agrifood
Training Partnership
(AFTP), Cranfield is offer-
ing farmers, agronomists,
and anybody likely to
use drones in agriculture,
the opportunity to learn
how drones can be used
responsibly and effec-
tively to monitor and
manage crops.
Dr Monica Rivas Casado,
who will tutor a flexible
e-learning online course
entitled ‘Drones for
crop production’ which
starts on November 18th
explains: “The use of
drones in agriculture is
increasing. However, reg-
ulations governing the use
of drones in all areas are
becoming more complex.
It is therefore important
that farmers understand
how drones can benefit
crop production whilst
also being able to use
drones within the regula-
tions set out by the CAA.”
Research compiled
by Price Waterhouse
Coopers estimates 76,233
drones will be used in the
UK by 2030. It is further
estimated that over a third
of these drones (25,732)
will be used in agriculture.
Farmers already use
drones for crop spraying
and health assessments.
The drones use normal
and thermal cameras to
deliver a level of insight
into field crop health that
is not obvious to the eye
and reduces the need for
farmers to walk fields to
understand how well crops
are performing.
“Drones offer farmers an
opportunity to view crops
quickly and efficiently.
The efficiencies drones
offer can save crops from
disease and feedback vital
information about how
well crops are establishing.
However, it is crucial that
farmers understand how to
deploy drones safely and
effectively on their farm by
being aware of these new
regulations,” says Monica.
In addition to being
aware of CAA regulations,
those who study the
course will also learn how
drones can be applied
in agriculture, how to
differentiate between
drones, and what soft-
ware is available for crop
monitoring. The course will
cover how to interpret the
data generated by drones
and how this can be used
to improve crop and land
management. Soil health,
crop establishment and
disease can all be assessed
by evaluating drone data
which saves time and
discovers crop production
issues more quickly.
“The projected increase
in food demand, driven by
climatic factors, increased
populations and land short-
age shows that accurate
information regarding crop
production is becoming
increasingly important.
This information will assist
crop management deci-
sions and improve farm
productivity. Traditional
crop monitoring methods,
using ground survey and
aerial photography, have
limitations that the use of
low cost, lightweight and
easily deployable drones
can overcome,” concludes
Monica.
www.aftp.co.uk/course/
drones-crop-production/
single_course
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