MU Extension Offers Full-Day Agriculture Drone Training

By Blake Jackson

The University of Missouri Extension will host a full-day workshop on drone use in agriculture from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the MU Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center, 147 State Highway T, Portageville.

The training will explore different types of drones used in agriculture and outline the requirements for remote pilots.

MU Extension specialists will showcase the capabilities of both small drones and larger utility drones used for spraying or spreading materials, as well as share examples of entrepreneurial applications for these technologies.

The morning session will feature classroom lectures and discussions, followed by a catered lunch at noon. In the afternoon, participants will engage in field exercises, gaining hands-on experience with manual flight maneuvers for both small and large drones.

They will also learn autonomous mission planning and implementation for drone imaging, spraying, and spreading tasks.

“By the end of the day, attendees should have a firm grasp on the many ways drones can be used in Missouri agriculture, the licensing and certifications required to pilot these technologies, basics of aircraft performance, weather and safety considerations, imaging and mapping tools, calibrating sprayer and spreader functions on utility drones, and manual flight controls for these aircraft,” said MU Extension agronomist Rusty Lee.

The registration fee covers training, materials, and lunch. Preregistration is required by September 1. For details, contact Caleb O’Neal at onealc@missouri.edu or 417-880-9406.

Photo Credit: istock-psisa