Diversified Crops

UAV Benefits

  • Quickly fly your field, collecting pictures and video throughout the growing season
  • Increase efficiency and reduce risks of missing a potential problem
  • Map your entire field with stitching software to generate data associated with specific geographic coordinates
  • Further, investigate areas of concern after stitching an image of your field
  • Higher-precision nutrient application through the creation of a field prescription
  • Visualize changes in the field you may not otherwise see from the ground

UAV Challenges

Clouds: Broken skies can ruin image quality.

  • Tip: Fly when skies are fully overcast or clear for optimal image quality.

Air traffic: Low-flying aircraft can threaten commercial UAV operations.

  • Tip: Watch for helicopters or crop dusters – the most common aircraft.

Camera settings: Incorrect settings can affect image quality.

  • Tip: It takes a little experience. Familiarize yourself with general camera settings and know the goals of each particular flight.

Diversified Crops Examples

Image of a sunflower plantation
Planter setting issue in sunflower field

A first-time sunflower producer wanted aerial imagery of their field...

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Image of a garden plot
Master Gardener daylily demonstration bed

Drone images were taken in this Master Gardner demonstration garden bed to identify different...

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 Image of tractor working on a field
Swine manure applications

Starting in June 2019, we observed the effects of sidedressing swine manure diagonally through...

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True color or RGB image of the plot
Industrial hemp for fiber and grain production

Images of industrial hemp in its first year were taken to understand the crop in terms of fiber...

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Images of industrial hemp in its first year were taken to understand the crop in terms of CBD production
Industrial hemp for CBD production

Images of industrial hemp in its first year were taken to understand the crop in terms of CBD...

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RGB sensors to identify crop stress and generate variable rate prescriptions
Crown rust in oats

A producer noticed discoloration in his oats and called the local Purdue Extension office for...

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Image of a growth stage or when two leaves are fully emerged to avoid too much canopy coverage
Popcorn stand counts

Drones were tested on performance in taking stand counts to evaluate seed spacing and uniform...

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Image of a tractor  working in a field
Strawberry planting

This video was taken to demonstrate how one producer uses a modified ground-driven tobacco...

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Image of a urban vegetable farm, view from the top
Urban vegetable farm

A flight was conducted over urban vegetable farm Johnny Mae Farm in Fort Wayne, Indiana...

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