increase font size
A spraying drone in action.
Drones are gaining more popularity in the rural sector as users realise they offer the potential to improve productivity, health and safety and ultimately reduce costs.
Indeed, while drone use probably started out as taking photos and making videos from a different perspective, they have now moved into the realms of crop assessment, monitoring of remote areas and water lines and targeted weed or crop spraying.
Ferntech, the distributor for the well known DJI range, returns to Fieldays 2023, with several examples of what drone adoption has to offer. The DJI Agras T40 Spraying Drone is designed for precision spraying and spreading, allowing operators to accurately spot spray plants, reducing the cost of expensive chemicals, while eliminating costs such a diesel, with environmental benefits such as reduced emissions, no ground compaction or bank destabilisation. Equipped with a 40L tank capacity, the T40 can efficiently spread and spray over 120ha per day, flying across steep terrain, boundaries, and gullies in a fraction of the time and with zero risk.
For livestock farmers, the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Barking Drone, easily herds and move your livestock across large distances, by combining a loudspeaker with recorded audio, such as a dog’s bark or a siren, at the same time cutting fuel usage, offering improved health and safety outcomes, and freeing up time taken for manual inspections.
In addition, with a 20-megapixel camera equipped with a 56x hybrid zoom function, users gain greater visibility and flexibility and the ability to cover more ground in less time.
This might include identifying and locating animals, detecting leaks in tanks and irrigation lines, or checking boundary fences.
Ease of use is enhanced with a clever waypoint feature, allowing operators to set up a predetermined route, from where the drone automatically flies along the predetermined path.
Visit sites PB9 and PB11.
The arrival of new F8 and F9 designations for its 8000 and 9000 series forage harvesters, signals a swag of upgrades from John Deere, highlighted by topping the 1000hp mark for the first time.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty farmer Hugh Jackson recently secured this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year title in Invercargill.
Ashburton-based Carrfields has signed an agreement with Manitou to take over the distribution and retail rights for Manitou Agricultural Equipment covering the lower North Island and the South Island, effective August 1, 2025.
With June ending and following the most upbeat National Fieldays for several years, tractor dealers are reporting a lift in sales.
Samasz distributor FarmShop has introduced the new XDF Series Front Mowers, said to be refined for local conditions and to improve cutting precision and wear resistance.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
