Use Of Drones Could Save Time, Money For Michigan Farmers

DETROIT (WWJ) - Are unmanned drones the tractors of the future?

Now that the Federal Aviation Administration has been issuing a limited number of done permits to farmers, Bob Boehm of the Michigan Farm Bureau expects we could see widespread used of the technology in this state within the next year or two.

Boehm said once privacy and safety concerns are resolved, the use of flying drones would save farmers both time and money.

"They would be able to detect crop damage; say if we had a hail storm come through, we might be able to use those to fly the field and estimate crop damage," Boehm explained, "from a hail storm, for instance — or flood damage, insect infestations, those kinds of things."

Boehm said that while drones will make farms more efficient, current regulations require a licensed pilot to operate the drone plus an observer on the ground —  which may prove cost prohibitive.

"But it is a step in the right direction," Boehm said, "and we're excited to think that down the road we'll be able to get that right balance to protect the public, but be able to have access to that tool."

Currently, the use of drones for a commercial purpose remains prohibited.

Meantime, testing will continue.

"We know that there's experiments going on now at universities under research," said Boehm. "We know that there are private individuals using (drones) to evaluate the potential, and try to streamline and understand the potential."