Drones Take Flight for Cover Crop Seeding in Dubuque County

A recent farm field day near Cascade, Iowa, showcased how drones are revolutionizing cover crop seeding in Dubuque County. The event highlighted a pilot program that’s using drones to help farmers efficiently plant cover crops, as reported by the Telegraph Herald.

Tackling Timing Challenges with Drones

One of the biggest hurdles for cover crop use has been timing.

Eric Schmechel, Executive Director of Dubuque County Watershed, explained, “One of the biggest challenges we heard from farmers over the past few years on cover crop use has been the challenges of timing, and they don’t grow and it’s too late, it’s harvest, there’s too many obstacles.”

The drone program aims to address these issues by making it easier and quicker to get cover crops in the ground.

How the Drone Seeding Works

Dan Staner of C & D Aerial LLC described the process: “We mainly just monitor what it’s doing in flight and then the other side of it is regulating our seed. Different times of the day, different moisture levels, the seed flow will constantly change on us.”

The drones use GIS information to map out routes and then autonomously disperse seeds along predetermined paths.

Efficiency and Adaptability

The program has found that about 100 pounds is the “perfect happy medium” for drone payload, balancing efficiency, battery life, and seeding capacity. This setup allows for maximum seeding while maintaining efficient charging cycles.

Flight conditions play a crucial role, with Staner noting, “Our flight conditions are probably going to be on the lower side of what an airplane or a helicopter can tolerate.”

Farmer Participation and Benefits

For this pilot program, each farmer was limited to 200 acres. Organizers estimate that 75 growers participated in the first year. Tony Kurt, a local farmer, found multiple benefits in the program. It was free to try, and with his neighbor Staner involved in the seeding, participation was straightforward. Kurt appreciated getting the cover crops planted earlier.

“I was happy with the way everything went for the most part. I do think the drone does a lot better than the airplane because he’s a lot closer to the ground and the wind’s not quite affecting stuff as much,” Kurt reportedly said.

DroneXL’s Take

The use of drones for cover crop seeding in Dubuque County is a prime example of how drone technology is transforming agriculture. This innovative approach aligns with the growing trend of drones for good, showcasing their potential to improve farming practices and environmental sustainability.

As we’ve seen in recent articles about drone inspections in agriculture, these unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming invaluable tools for farmers, offering precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness that traditional methods can’t match.

What are your thoughts on using drones for cover crop seeding? Let us know in the comments below.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​