Success StoryDrone Mapping for Forage Recommendations



Drone Mapping for Forage Recommendations

Author: David Coffey

Planning Unit: Jackson County CES

Major Program: Forages

Plan of Work: Agriculture Production and Marketing

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Jackson County Agriculture agent worked alongside other agents from the wilderness trail area as well as a representative of Sentera crop solutions to learn to fly a drone for use in precision agriculture for producer forage recommendations. The agent and other agents worked to write a grant to pay for the drone and the precision agriculture software. The drone program has been implemented on 15 farms. The data collected has been used to create color and vegetative index maps that are then used to make recommendations to farmers. The recommendations range from grazing plans, to reseeding. The program has developed an understanding of the effects of grazing on plant health and plant regrowth for producers. The program has helped producers to implement grazing plans, routine soil sampling of stressed areas, and has increased use of the extension service for these services.






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