Drones: Toys or tools? Potato farmers share their experience

Drones can take aerial footage of such high quality that the user looks like a National Geographic videographer. But do those images provide any value beyond selling the latest edition of iron? Kate VanderZaag and her husband Peter have been experimenting with a drone on their 1,800 acres of owned and rented land in Ontario, Canada. They share an insightful experience. “We’re open to technology,” says VanderZaag, a fourth-generation potato farmer. “We may not be the first to adopt technology, but we know that we’re on the cusp of change moving towards more information gathering in-season. The drone is not used as a toy.  It’s a field tool.” Two years ago, they purchased a DGI Phantom 3 for $1600. The high-definition photos are remarkable for clarity. The device can be programmed for a flight pattern of 15 minutes in duration. The drone is not a replacement for field scouting, a job that VanderZaag performs with diligence two or three times a week. More