NFU Praises FAA For Addressing Challenges And Promises Offered By Drones

Sep 04, 2015

NFU Praises FAA for Addressing Challenges and Promises Offered By Drones National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today praised the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its efforts to address the challenges and promises offered by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, operating in the U.S. The administration today selected two individuals to executive-level positions to guide the agency’s integration of UAVs into U.S. airspace.

"UAVs have significant potential to benefit America’s family farmers and ranchers," said Johnson. "NFU appreciates these appointments as well as the FAA’s past work soliciting public comments on how to fully realize the potential, and recognize the problems, that could accompany widespread drone use."

The FAA selected Marke “Hoot” Gibson and Earl Lawrence today to help guide the agency as it integrates Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). The two will be tasked with external outreach and education, and drone safety, respectively.

Johnson reiterated points laid out in NFU’s comments submitted to the FAA in April 2015. "Initial assessments contend that the technology could be used for surveying and detailed scouting of cattle, insect infestation, insufficient nutrients, and weed presence," said Johnson. "And as the technology matures and adoption becomes more significant, the uses can evolve to a much wider application. Agriculture is excited and stands by with high expectations."

Johnson also underscored the potential pitfalls of this widespread UAV use, including privacy concerns and safety hazards for air traffic. Drones have been used with increased frequency to monitor private agricultural operations creating concerns over landowner rights. Airplane pilots have also reported 700 close call incidents with drones this year, triple the number recorded for all of 2014.

"While we recognize the potential benefits that could stem from UAV use in agriculture, we must be aware of the issues that arise with proliferation of this technology," said Johnson. "In order to achieve meaningful utilization, it is critical that our nation has a standardized and uniform framework for use, safeguards to personal privacy and adequate safety standards."

Click here to see more...

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.