Drones’ role in farming on agenda for conference

Drone technology’s role in the sustainable management of New Zealand farms will be highlighted when international specialists meet this week at Massey University.

More than 250 delegates, including farmers, scientists, rural industry professionals and policy makers, will meet at the 27th Annual Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre Workshop at the Manawatu campus focused on Nutrient Management for Farm, Catchment and Community.

Massey University Professor in Precision Agriculture Ian Yule says remote sensing through drones will play a big role in meeting the challenge to balance environmental sustainability with higher food production. “The drones will help increase productivity by providing more accurate information about when and where fertiliser and nutrients need to be used,” Professor Yule says.

“It will also help sustainability by preventing unnecessary run-off into river systems.”

Participants will discuss how to make the primary industries’ response to Government’s new growth agenda complementary with the need for continual improvement in on-farm environmental practice.

Centre director Professor Mike Hedley says the workshop will tackle the big issues facing the sector. “We’ll be looking at the hardest question for New Zealand – how do we earn a first-world crust from primary industries, while protecting and improving the quality of our natural land and water resources.”

There will be several presentations from international specialists, including Professor Steve Raine from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, who will talk about Advances in Intelligent and Autonomous Irrigation and Fertiliser Efficiency.
Click here for the full programme and abstracts.