The adoption of RPAAS can increase farmers' productivity by making operations a lot more efficient, effective and hassle free.
The world is always evolving as it seeks new and better ways to achieve its goals, and the farming sector is no exception. Since the generations before us that relied on the strength of man and mule, advancements in technology have made almost every aspect of modern agriculture easier, faster and more productive for its user - and while we’ve certainly come a long way, we’ve only begun to tap into the ways future technology will further improve our efforts.
One relatively recent area of advancement lies in farmers’ adoption of aerial drone solutions under the umbrella of RPAAS. This new, agile technology, when operated by expert hands, has the ability to be a true game changer the likes of which has not been seen since the invention of the engine.
A Quick Review of RPAAS
For anyone hearing about RPAAS for the first time, it’s an initialism for Remotely Piloted Aerial Application System. Within the context of this written piece, RPAAS covers remotely controlled drones, remote pilot stations, control links, software, and other technologies that make up the drone operating systems.
What Can RPAAS Do for Farmers
Between the increase in demand for food production and the challenges or complexities involved in low-margin agricultural processes, there’s an always growing need for farmers to find ways to produce more, for less cost.
Most recently, the challenges of climate change have not only shortened or stifled their growing seasons, they’ve also come with added public and Government pressure to reduce emissions and show efforts towards sustainable, more environmentally compliant, practice.
In a bid to meet up with these shifts in normality, modern agriculture is placing an emphasis on precision agriculture and finding ways to increase the accuracy, predictability and accessibility of their efforts. Drones offer incredible potential in all of these areas.
In fact, according to recent statistics the North American agricultural drone market is estimated to be about $32.4B which indicates that the industry is rapidly embracing RPAAS and acknowledges its benefits.
Let’s get into more practical scope, revealing all that RPAAS has been doing and will continue to do for farmers.
Crop Monitoring
There’s a lot to consider within the lifecycle of crops from the moment of planting to the time of harvest, and the importance of ongoing monitoring of high-value crops cannot be overstated.
However, without the right tools, this can be an incredibly tedious and time consuming task that can equate to trying to hit a moving target, blindfolded.
Fortunately, the recent use of drones (RPAAS) has proven effective and less labor-intensive, with technology capable of providing large amounts of accurate crop health data. These highly sophisticated drones use powerful imaging software like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to cover large areas of farmland and provide data farmers can use to quickly address problems and opportunities.
Irrigation Assessment
All crops need a good amount of water supply to grow and be healthy, which is why irrigation is such an important aspect of farming. Farmers are constantly faced with the task of inspecting or assessing the flow and state of the irrigation system and this can become a cumbersome task for those with vast lands.
RPAAS comes to the rescue here as well with multispectral sensors that can detect areas of dryness, leaks, and even pools in the farmland. All the farmer has to do is engage RPAAS to remotely pilot a drone across the entire expanse of the farmland, acquire, analyze and interpret the data and prompt any necessary interventions.
Crop Damage Investigation
With aerial drone solutions, farmers can also investigate and identify damaged crops quickly and accurately. Piloted drones use multispectral sensors to spot areas of crops infested by weeds, pests and any other unwanted environmental agents.
Beyond the identification, farmers can also estimate the quantity of chemicals required to combat the infestations and distribute them safely and efficiently - all with the help of drones.
Crop Spraying
With RPAAS, every farming operation becomes visible. Farmers need not work blindly as the acquired data speaks to suitable locations for different actions, and wherever it’s legal, makes spraying quicker with less waste.
Drones offer solutions for both vast open and uniquely inaccessible areas making it a great fit for the needs of the entire farmland - all while preventing human contact with any dangerous chemicals.
Planting
RPAAS also works for some types of seed planting. In types of planting where farmers need to spray the pods and seeds, Drones can be used to ensure minimal disturbance and maximum success.
Soil Analysis
RPPAS can help farmers gather information from the subsurface. As the drone moves around the farmland, its multispectral sensors provide necessary information on the soil components, nutrient distribution, and other conditions; aiding farmers to make more accurate and reliable decisions.
Livestock Tracking
Not just plants, RPAAS can also help farmers with livestock, like accurate tracking. With this system, farmers can track the movement of their livestock, and even monitor their health conditions.
RPAAS- So Many Benefits
Looking in-depth, there are so many benefits to both the farmer and the industry. Let's have a rundown:
- Increased productivity
- Improved safety for farmers and the environment
- Improved accuracy
- Seamless decision making since data are speedily acquired
- Less tedious but more efficient farming techniques
- Access to insurance in the case of crop damage which is due to the availability of data
- Minimized wastage of resources
Final Words
With a growing list of benefits for those who choose to utilize RPAAS solutions, why not find out if there is anything it can do for you?
If you're looking to increase productivity, improve your accuracy, and minimize your waste RPAAS is the solution you're looking for. Contact Strongfield Environmental Solutions to learn more or to book a demo, today.