Jenny Chen, with Wonderfull Inc., presented at the CFGA’s 15th Annual Conference, Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture. She discussed the benefits of drone technology to farmers managing pasture or crops. Since 2019, Jenny and her team have promoted and sold DJI agricultural drones in Canada. 
 
Using field data from China, Brazil, South Africa, Australia and Canada, Jenny illustrated how drones can be part of a sustainable solution for forage and grassland producers. 
 
Drones are used to spread chemicals, seeds and water on fields in a controlled and managed manner, while reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, cattle farmers can use drones to check fields which may be difficult to reach using other methods. They can use drones to spread grass seed as well and they can target invasive species using the AI (artificial intelligence) system. 
 
Jenny explained farms in remote or rough lands are using drones to reach every corner of their fields, especially areas with uneven terrain. And, because applications can be very targeted the use of the drone helps these farmers make their pasture more profitable. 
 
“There’s an example, they said the tractor will have to use 600 litres per hectare, but using the drone is only 10 to 15 litres per hectare,” she told attendees. 
 
Drones come with three major functions: mapping, spraying, and spreading. They use less resources, fuel and time than conventional technologies. AI and mapping software helps provide control over where and how much spray is dispersed and ensures it specifically targets where it needs to go, whether it’s herbicides, fertilizer or seeds. 
 
“The drone has centimetre-level positioning accuracy,” she said. “Less than an inch. It makes coverage more uniform.” 
 
Jenny explained Quebec Hydro uses the drones because of their accuracy and control. She jokes producers can have their hands free to have a cup of coffee while the drone does the work. 
 
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