Jul 10, 2023

Drone technology in specialty crops transforms orchard and vineyard management

This is the first in a three-part series, focusing on the rising use of drone technology in specialty crop operations and the growing number of tasks they can do. Future installments will look at costs and the pros and cons of owning vs. leasing, and what the future holds for drone technology.

The rise of drone technology in specialty crops is changing how growers manage orchards, vineyards and fields. From spraying and scouting to harvesting and pest management, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are revolutionizing traditional farming tasks. As drones become more capable — staying aloft longer and carrying heavier payloads — they’re expanding their role in specialty agriculture.

Expanding capabilities and efficiency

“Drones in agriculture overall have become more and more prevalent,” said Ittai Marom, general manager of Israel-based Tevel Aerobotics Technologies. “They are used for different operations, whether spraying or taking photos or fruit counting or disease detection, you name it. Drones have gained many capabilities. They can stay longer in the air and carry more and more payloads of different kinds.”

At Hein Ranch Co. in Visalia, California, drones are deployed to spray almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and grapes, as well as citrus and avocados. The ranch also uses drones to release beneficial insects and pheromones that disrupt pest mating.

“We’re seeing a lot of benefits,” said Martin Hein, co-owner and a partner in FlyingAg, a growers’ collective advising farmers on drone selection and aerial imaging. Hein noted that drones allow access to marshy or hard-to-reach areas and deliver faster imagery than satellites, which often require a week-long turnaround.

“Because receiving images and reports from satellite imaging companies can sometimes entail waits of up to a week, the immediacy of drone images improves grower efficiencies,” he said.

Cutting costs and improving sustainability

Agricultural technologist Chad Colby, consultant to FlyingAg.com and owner of ColbyAgTech.com, said drones help growers make more informed decisions in pest management, crop monitoring and resource allocation.

“This technology not only improves productivity and efficiency, but also contributes to sustainable agricultural practices by reducing chemical inputs and optimizing resource utilization,” Colby said. “Drones are transforming the way farmers approach crop management, enabling them to achieve higher yields, reduce costs and enhance overall farm performance.”

One of the most striking applications of drone technology in specialty crops is robotic fruit harvesting. Tevel’s flying autonomous robots, powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision, use mechanical “hands” to pick fruit. This is a major breakthrough for growers facing labor shortages.

At HMC Farms in Kingsburg, California, Tevel’s robots harvest peaches, nectarines, and plums. “These flying robots are a simple and novel solution as far as freedom of mobility,” said Drew Ketelsen, HMC’s vice president. “This little 2′ x 2′ machine can go wherever it needs to go to pick the fruit. It seems really efficient and a smart way to move along the harvest.”

In addition to harvesting, the drones collect per-piece data — such as fruit size distributions — that help growers forecast yield, manage packing and meet customer requirements.

Smarter crop scouting and targeted applications

Other drones at HMC Farms fly over vineyards to assess field conditions. Drone imagery reveals areas where protective plastic coverings need repair, saving time by replacing manual inspections row by row.

Houston-based Hylio, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems for precision applications, helps growers apply crop treatments directly to problem areas. “The traditional methods for spraying are great, but if your ground is muddy or obstructed, it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for that tractor to get our and treat your crops,” said Arthur Erickson, Hylio’s CEO and co-founder. “Now he can treat those 20 or 30 acres and get good yields out of them that he otherwise couldn’t even reach with his traditional equipment.”

Drone technology in specialty crops opens access to applications “that otherwise couldn’t have been done with the current physical tools.”

Data analytics and future potential

Adityah Singh, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida, said drones equipped with thermal and multispectral sensors can detect early signs of water stress or crop disease. “Drones can be outfitted with thermal imagers to map crop canopy temperature, providing valuable insights into water stress,” he said.

However, interpreting this data requires robust analytical tools, said Ali Pourreza, assistant professor and Extension specialist at the University of California, Davis. “Data collection is one part of the challenge, but data analytics is also an important part. If we get good data but we don’t have a good algorithm, the data is useless and maybe even misleading.”

As drone technology in specialty crops advances, experts agree that success will depend on integrating reliable analytics with hardware innovations. Together, they promise a future of more efficient, precise, and sustainable fruit and vegetable production.

— Doug Ohlemeier, assistant editor