Farm & Ranch

Drone use in agriculture

Published

7 years ago

January 1, 2017

NTFR

By Lindsay Allen

It’s hard to talk about the future of agriculture without talking about technology. As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones as they are more commonly referred to, continue to gain popularity and capability, those in the cattle business have the opportunity to use this technology to their advantage.

The U.S.-based Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International predicts that agricultural uses will eventually account for 80 percent of the commercial market for drones. The numerous uses of drones in agriculture allow farmers and ranchers to make better management decisions and increase productivity.

“Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drone technology, is in its infancy, so new uses are only as limited as one’s imagination. For beef producers, examples could include counting cattle, watching herding habits, checking on fences and for rustlers, locating and identifying weeds to be sprayed, monitoring calving and heat synchronization, checking for sick animals and feed intake, scouting rough terrain areas inaccessible by vehicles, and biosecurity,” according to Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Drones really can be used in all areas of the industry. Take for instance Penny Bowie, owner of Omni Advertising and Graphics Inc. of Newnan, Georgia, who purchased a drone that is used in her cattle advertising and her real estate sales with The Auction Way Company.

To read more pick up a copy of the January 2017 NTFR issue.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

6 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.