ISU Researchers, Partners Use UAS to Identify Crop Threats

Photo courtesy Idaho State University

 By Priya Potapragada



Idaho State University is conducting research on how to use unmanned aerial vehicles to develop new methods on how to take care of crop threats in potato fields. 



UAS has the capability to monitor large areas of potato fields to track the pests and diseases that could affect crops. Early detection of crop stress can be used to better manage crops with UAS, which could also help to examine how climate change may affect crop production and what long-term impacts could occur. 



“Our new approach to protect important food crops such as potatoes is using sophisticated sensors on UAS flights to gather information that allows us to determine the health of crops,” says Donna Delparte, an Idaho State University Geosciences assistant research professor who is the project director for the $150,000 seed grant, titled “Addressing threats to potato crops using precision agriculture” from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.



ISU’s public partners on this project are researchers from Boise State University, the University of Idaho and the Idaho National Laboratory. The private partners on this project are Empire Aerospace, Advanced Aviation Solutions (ADAVSO), Robert Blair, Blair Farms, Driscoll Farms, Driscoll Brothers, Wada Farms and Walters Produce NG Nickell Farms. J.R. Simplot Co. is contributing precision agriculture equipment for on-the-ground surveys to compare to the aerial mapping scans.



“Each of the enterprises brings a unique perspective to the project and adds value to the end results,” Delparte said. “We are proud to have these accomplished stakeholders on our team as industry advisors and participants.”



Advanced Aviation Solution, a firm specializing in UAS operations, will be working closely with the researchers on determining the most efficient UAS and sensor combinations as well as meeting deadlines.