Drone Seeds Cover Crops In Standing Corn
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The University of Maryland Extension proved that drones are effective for spreading cover crop seed in standing corn. Thanks to 2 years of research by Erika Crowl, ag extension agent for Baltimore County, Md., corn growers can get reimbursed for the practice.
“Some farmers in our area have pretty peculiarly shaped fields and deal with powerlines as well as close-up tree lines,” she says. “They could use helicopters or airplanes, but it’s tough to navigate these fields with them.”
The drones get into those tight areas and make it possible to spread cover crop seed early. This gives it time to get established before the crop is harvested.
“One farmer took his corn off and was able to graze cattle on the growing cover crops,” says Crowl. “It made the cover crop multi-purpose. It regrew, serving as a cover crop over winter.”
Crowl researched the use of drones at the request of area farmers. Working with several drone companies, she and Andrew Kness, a colleague, explored whether it was economically feasible to use them for seeding cover crops.
In 2020, they used a drone to seed daikon radish into a 26-acre field of standing corn. The drone pilot was a licensed operator. The drone was a DJ1 with a 16-lb. seed hopper that held 12 1/2 lbs. of seed, enough for 1.2 acres. Its battery powered two flights.
“We picked radish seed for its weight, hoping for more seed-to-soil contact when it rammed into the ground,” says Crowl.
When they went back in mid-October, they did random counts of radish plants across the field. They found an average plant population of just over three plants per sq. ft.
They also checked canopy cover using a smartphone app called Canopeo. The average canopy cover was 39.1 percent.
Crowl and Kness replicated the trial the next year. The stand was nearly two plants per sq. ft. and produced an average canopy coverage of 30 percent. Heavier precipitation in the previous fall is thought to have made the difference between the two years. A shorter corn hybrid the in first year may have also allowed better cover crop establishment due to greater light penetration.
“The farmers who took part in the experiment have continued using drones for seeding cover crops,” says Crowl. “Thanks to the interest shown, two area seed and fertilizer retailers have added drones and are offering the service.”
Crowl believes drone services could be a good side business for a farmer. “We’re hoping to offer a Drone 101 Technical School for farmers interested in buying their own,” she says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Baltimore County, 1114 Shawan Rd., Cockeysville, Md. 21030 (ph 410-887-8090; ecrowl@umd.edu).
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Drone Seeds Cover Crops In Standing Corn PLANTING EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous The University of Maryland Extension proved that drones are effective for spreading cover crop seed in standing corn Thanks to 2 years of research by Erika Crowl ag extension agent for Baltimore County Md corn growers can get reimbursed for the practice “Some farmers in our area have pretty peculiarly shaped fields and deal with powerlines as well as close-up tree lines ” she says “They could use helicopters or airplanes but it’s tough to navigate these fields with them ” The drones get into those tight areas and make it possible to spread cover crop seed early This gives it time to get established before the crop is harvested “One farmer took his corn off and was able to graze cattle on the growing cover crops ” says Crowl “It made the cover crop multi-purpose It regrew serving as a cover crop over winter ” Crowl researched the use of drones at the request of area farmers Working with several drone companies she and Andrew Kness a colleague explored whether it was economically feasible to use them for seeding cover crops In 2020 they used a drone to seed daikon radish into a 26-acre field of standing corn The drone pilot was a licensed operator The drone was a DJ1 with a 16-lb seed hopper that held 12 1/2 lbs of seed enough for 1 2 acres Its battery powered two flights “We picked radish seed for its weight hoping for more seed-to-soil contact when it rammed into the ground ” says Crowl When they went back in mid-October they did random counts of radish plants across the field They found an average plant population of just over three plants per sq ft They also checked canopy cover using a smartphone app called Canopeo The average canopy cover was 39 1 percent Crowl and Kness replicated the trial the next year The stand was nearly two plants per sq ft and produced an average canopy coverage of 30 percent Heavier precipitation in the previous fall is thought to have made the difference between the two years A shorter corn hybrid the in first year may have also allowed better cover crop establishment due to greater light penetration “The farmers who took part in the experiment have continued using drones for seeding cover crops ” says Crowl “Thanks to the interest shown two area seed and fertilizer retailers have added drones and are offering the service ” Crowl believes drone services could be a good side business for a farmer “We’re hoping to offer a Drone 101 Technical School for farmers interested in buying their own ” she says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Baltimore County 1114 Shawan Rd Cockeysville Md 21030 ph 410-887-8090; ecrowl@umd edu
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