Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly called drones, have been airborne for several years, but they’re now being used for more than military operations. One of those areas is helping ag producers better monitor how their fields are growing.

Many tech-savvy farmers have wanted to incorporate drones into their operations for as long as the vehicles have been flying. But drone flights were pretty much restricted to hobbyists and researchers until 2016. That was when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) loosened its restrictions, allowing for drone use by commercial businesses.

Bijesh Maharjan is an extension specialist and associate professor in soil and nutrition management at the University of Nebraska’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff.

“Before the restrictions were loosened, we had to apply for a certificate of authorization from the FAA before we could fly,” he said. “The authorization was for one time on one site. After 2016, we have blanket authorization to fly as long as we’re following their guidelines.”

Some of the guidelines include not flying within five nautical miles of an airport and not flying at a height of more than 400 feet. The local airport also needs to be notified of the drone’s flight schedule. In addition, a required pilot’s examination for commercial businesses has been simplified.

Across the state, UNL is using drones primarily for “crop scouting.” Drones with mounted thermal and multi-spectral cameras can identify any kind of crop stresses. That could include areas subject to insufficient moisture, weeds and pest infestations.