Oak Wilt
Flown by Dave Osborne, Agriculture & Natural Resource Educator, Purdue Extension – Ripley County
UAVs were used to locate known trees at Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) affected by oak wilt, a fatal disease in red and black oak trees. As we flew the woods, we identified several more infected areas. There is no cure for oak wilt, so trees will be harvested in the winter to save their value and eliminate spread of the disease. The value of the trees harvested is more than what it cost for the drone technology used. Imagery was also presented during the 2019 forestry field day at SEPAC.