July 2014
29,200 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast.
INSIDE Page 19–30
FERTILISER LIFT OUT Page 3
Canterbury couple take national title
Page 10–11
In search of the drovers
CONTACT US Canterbury Farming 03 347 2314
Drone technology could cut farming costs by Kelly M Phillips
Drones have been making headlines around the world for use in warfare and policing but one South Island sheep farmer is adapting the technology and says it could save New Zealand farmers thousands of dollars every year. A documentary on unmanned drones in Afghanistan inspired sheep farmer Neil Gardyne and his son Mark to try out similar technology on their South Island farm. The Gardynes purchased their quadrocopter drone from Aeronavics, a company based in Raglan near Hamilton, and outfitted it with a gopro camera for video and still pictures. The pair recently demonstrated the use of their drone to farmers, academics and other interested groups in the farming industry at Lincoln University near Christchurch. Fourteen-year-old Mark said it is used to monitor stock, measure dry matter and count sheep. He said using Google maps, he can programme waypoints into the drone and it will fly autonomous missions around the farm. All information it gathers is sent to a laptop and the findings can be shared with others on Facebook. The Gardynes have worked with the Dunedin company AbacusBio to develop applications for the drone. AbacusBio engineer Bram Visser designed the programme that allows them to count sheep on the farm.
Mr Visser said his company had seen a lot of interest in the potential of drones but were still wanting to understand what holds some people back from pursuing them. “We get a lot of interest at Fieldays but there is some hesitation. Farmers still like to ride their bikes around the farm,” he said. Aeronavics director Linda Bulk said her company was seeing a lot of enthusiasm around quadrocopters from the farming community. “The idea has moved past its sci-fi feel and now farmers can imagine the benefit of using it,” she said. Mrs Bulk said the drone was easy to use and that model aircraft and helicopters were probably 100 times more difficult to fly. She said her company provides technical support and is able to do on-farm demonstrations to potential buyers so they can see the usefulness of the drone at their own property. “Not having to drive to remote locations means a lot to farmers,” she said. A job which used to take the Gardynes 45 minutes on a four wheeler can now be completed
The battery operated drone — making farmers lives easier
by the battery operated drone in about five. They estimate this saves them around $15,000 a year in travel and fuel expenses. Neil said cast sheep used to be a real problem on the farm. “The sound of the drone can frighten the livestock and we can buzz a cast ewe to get her back on her feet,” he said.
He and Mark have come up with about 40 on-farm applications for the device and have shared their findings with AbacusBio. The cost of a basic drone is around $8,000 and it can withstand light rain and winds of up to 65kph. The drone the Gardynes use cost about $15,000 after it
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was outfitted with cameras and sensors. Neil said it is expected to last for about three years before the technology will need to be updated. He believes drone technology is exciting to kids his son’s age and will be a good way to get them involved in farming in the future.