AGRICULTURAL drones have become one of the latest tech advances improving farm management efficiency across the Loddon.
And interest in the drones that can spray up to 30 hectares a day was high at last week’s Elmore Field Days.
Bridgewater Farmware’s Matt Edwards and Tyson Kloester joined owner Dave Edwards talking to farmers about the latest models of agriculture drones that are allowing farms to access difficult areas and also avoid driving through crops.
“There has been a lot of interest in the drones,” said Matt. “They have been available overseas for the last five years and have taken off in Australia the last 18 months,.
“This is the first full season that we have had the drones. Last year in the area they were used to tackle some desiccated canola crops.”
He said the drones had a 10-minute cycle tank capacity for spraying fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.
“They can also be used to drop feral baits and mouse seeds.”
“The latest model drones using GPS instructions are helping local farmers get into difficult and undulating country after crops have been sown.”
Bridgewater Farmware was among Loddon agribusinesses at the field days where they say it’s a chance to go to the customers. Eddington Engineering, Southern Stockfeeds and Lauke flour mills were also among hundreds of exhibitors at the event.