Using Cutting-Edge Technology to Take Farming to the Next Level
Farming and drones might not sound like two things that would ever go together, but a program at West Hills College Coalinga (WHC) is preparing students to use this cutting-edge technology to take farming to the next level.
Through funding from the Advanced Transportation and Renewable Energy Sector (ATRE), WHC received Phantom 2 and Phantom 4 drones for its Precision Agriculture program, which also includes instruction in GIS software, automated tractor systems, and other technologies that are being used to change the way farming is done across California.
Terry Brase, an instructor in the Precision Agriculture program, supervised a group of students using Phantom 2 drones to fly over a pistachio orchard. The students guided the drones over the orchard and then loaded the images into Maps Made Easy software to view.
Spotting Pests and Other Issues in Fields and Orchards
They were able to get close enough to see individual leaves on trees, and what they found is an early indicator of how drones may be able to help farmers spot pests and other issues in fields and orchards in a way human eyes may never detect.
“We were able to see 12-20 different trees that lost their leaves early, which could indicate some abnormality,” Brase said. “Some programs are more concerned about the flying, but I’m more concerned about the imagery that farmers can use for decision making.”
Students were responsible for learning how to operate the drones themselves, which taught critical thinking and troubleshooting skills. The entire activity from setup to flight took about two hours to complete.
Precision Agriculture
WHC was the first college in the country to offer a degree in Precision Agriculture. Students can earn a 28-credit certificate and then continue on for an Associate’s degree.
Brase, who came to WHC with more than 20 years of experience teaching farming in Iowa, said these types of activities prepare students for careers as pest control advisers. By completing the Precision Agriculture program, they’ll have an advantage over others who don’t have those specific mapping and imaging skills.
“The main purpose of the program isn’t the drones themselves, it’s the imagery we capture with the drones,” Brase said. “A lot of the students would be using this experience with imagery to consult with growers. The knowledge of imagery and how to capture it is important.”
Following this successful trial run, Brase hopes to expand drone use to other classes in the Precision Agriculture program, and add a new class by Fall 2018.
The jury is still out on widespread use of drones in farming, but programs like Precision Agriculture are providing valuable data and education to the industry about what’s possible and what the next generation of farming might look like.
“The goal of some students is to start their own company where they are flying drones for growers themselves,” Brase said. “It may be early for that … I’m not sure if industry is quite ready. Most growers are still feeling out how the technology makes sense in their businesses.”
