A Tuscan-based company, FVP CATALOG, has received a rare exemption from the FAA to fly UAVs for commercial purposes. The Section 333 exemption was granted to only 247 people in the country. FVP CATALOG owner Bruce Pogosaew spent six months in the complicated process and received it in part because of his willingness to venture into agriculture inspections if farmers begin … Read More
InterDrone – International Drone Conference
Now this looks like a place for an AgNerd! InterDrone – The International Drone Conference and Expo. It takes place in Las Vegas, September 9-11. Maybe I’ll see you there? That is, if I can go! Right now there is a call for speakers. If you would like to make a presentation at this conference, let them know. There is … Read More
FAA Announces UAS Development Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced new partnerships with industries, including agriculture, to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations beyond the type of operations the agency proposed in the draft small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rule it published in February. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced the initiative today at the Association for Unmanned … Read More
Trimble Partners with UAS Manufacturer
Trimble is partnering with leading unmanned aircraft system (UAS) manufacturer MULTIROTOR service-drone, GmbH in an effort to expand its existing portfolio to provide customers with additional solutions for aerial imaging needs. MULTIROTOR service-drone, based in Germany, is a leading manufacturer of multirotor systems known for innovation and technology leadership. Trimble will be MULTIROTOR service-drone’s exclusive provider of multirotor vehicles for … Read More
Farm Bureau: Ag Could Really Soar with Drones
Farm Bureau says agricultural drones could really help farmers and ranchers soar to success. This news release says the group submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that focused on performance-based standards for the FAA’s rule on the “Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.” “Drones are the next evolution in American agriculture,” said Dale Moore, AFBF executive … Read More
Corn Growers Provide UAV Comments
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is asking the government to give flight to some unmanned aerial vehicles. The group submitted comments to both the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration about proposed rules regarding the commercial usage and privacy best practices of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In the letter to … Read More
FAA Exemption Clears PrecisionHawk for UAV Takeoff
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) company PrecisionHawk has received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exemption that will let the company conduct precision aerial surveys, including agricultural applications. The company says it will use the Lancaster UAV. Over the past few months, we have built up highly qualified service teams to provide cost effective aerial data capture and analysis tools to our … Read More
Drones Really Take Off with Farmers and Ranchers
Farmers and ranchers are accepting and embracing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones. This news release from Farm Bureau says one of the group’s members, Jeff VanderWerff, went before a Senate subcommittee to explain drones’ value and how farmers and ranchers are leading the way in exploring commercial use for this technology. America’s farmers and … Read More
PrecisionHawk & Agri-Trend Provide UAV Services
PrecisionHawk and Agri-Trend announced a partnership to offer PrecisionHawk’s leading UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) data collection, Sensing and Analysis tools to farmers across the US and Canada through the Agri-Trend SkyScout™ Program. This year, the partnership will offer UAV services throughout regions of Canada using trained individuals with the objective to roll out a full commercialization service model in 2016. … Read More
FAA Posts Proposed Drone Rules
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released proposed regulations for the commercial use of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones by industries including agriculture. Technically called “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), the rules apply to small aircraft under 55 pounds and would limit their use to daylight and to visual line-of-sight operations, which could be a problem for agricultural operations. … Read More