Unmanned Drones May Have Their Greatest Impact on Agriculture
Unmanned drones have emerged as a controversial tool for the military and national security apparatus. But in a few years, they may become ubiquitous over America’s farms, producing up to 100,000 new jobs and add $82 billion in economic activity between 2015 and 2025. The change will open new markets for sales, thanks the technology’s ability to provide farmers with a bird’s-eye view of their land. Weighing less than 50 pounds and often the size of a child’s toy-plane, agricultural drones can drastically reduce the cost of land surveying. Robert Blair, the owner of a wheat, barley and cattle farm in Idaho that was established in 1903, says he uses his own UAV for multiple purposes, including providing proof for insurance claims. (Read more)
Unmanned drones have emerged as a controversial tool for the military and national security apparatus. But in a few years, they may become ubiquitous over America’s farms, producing up to 100,000 new jobs and add $82 billion in economic activity between 2015 and 2025. The change will open new markets for sales, thanks the technology’s ability to provide farmers with a bird’s-eye view of their land. Weighing less than 50 pounds and often the size of a child’s toy-plane, agricultural drones can drastically reduce the cost of land surveying. Robert Blair, the owner of a wheat, barley and cattle farm in Idaho that was established in 1903, says he uses his own UAV for multiple purposes, including providing proof for insurance claims. (Read more)