Have you read some of the reports lately about drones and thought, “I don’t want anything to do with that!”? It’s easy to see their disadvantages, especially when it comes to privacy and bystander safety. As with all new technologies, I find myself eager to determine how drones can make our ability to ranch and manage land more efficiently and effectively.
I will start by acknowledging that drones, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, are a new area of research for ranching. While there is currently little, if any, software or apps available for quick use of drones for ranch management, it’s not far away.
Some potential uses of drones include basic livestock, water and fence monitoring. Let’s dare to think beyond this into estimating the amount of forage available for livestock, identifying the percent brush coverage in a pasture, and even identifying what plant species are there. We could identify cows that are not bred, count our livestock or wildlife, and even assist during prescribed burns with ignition in hard to reach areas.
There are two main types of drones – fixed wing or rotocopter. Fixed wings are quite expensive and lack the ability to hover, so most ranchers will likely prefer a rotocopter. A common type for commercial use is a DJI Phantom 4 that retails for $1,200-$1,500.
The current drone rules and regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, can be confusing. The biggest point of confusion is whether or not a person is considered ‘commercial’ or ‘hobby’. If you are simply flying a drone for fun, this would be considered hobby flying. Hobby pilots are not currently required to register their drone or have a Part 107 sUAS Pilot License. However, they do have to abide by certain rules including:
- Stay 5 miles away from any airports without prior permission from airport and air traffic control (check B4UFLY app).
- Must always yield right of way to manned aircraft.
- Keep drones within line of sight.
- Must follow community-based guidelines and more.
Anybody receiving a salary or making money off of the enterprise they are flying for (including cattle or leased wildlife hunting) would be considered commercial. Commercial pilots must be at least 16 years old and pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test, which is good for two years. They must also be vetted by the Transportation Safety Administration and follow the following operating rules unless a certificate of waiver has been issued:
- Must fly in Class G airspace.
- Keep aircraft in sight.
- Fly under 400 feet.
- Fly during the day.
- Fly at or below 100 mph.
- Yield right of way to manned aircraft.
- Must NOT fly over people.
- Must NOT fly from a moving vehicle.
For more information about drone use and regulations, visit www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/. To connect with others who fly drones in the area, check out the brand new Texas Ag Drone Enthusiasts Facebook page.
— by Megan Clayton, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service range specialist, Corpus Christi