Jarrod Miller, Extension Agronomist, jarrod@udel.edu
Drones can be an excellent tool to assist with scouting this season. University of Delaware Extension has information on drone and camera types, which can be found at the following link: http://extension.udel.edu/factsheets/types-of-drones-for-field-crop-production/
We have also written recommendations when purchasing a drone for crop scouting and most scouts could start with a simple drone ($800-$1200) as they learn this season. There is no reason to by drones that cost $10,000 or more, as the return on investment has not been determined yet. Our recommendations can be found at this link: http://extension.udel.edu/factsheets/selecting-a-drone-for-crop-scouting/
Although there is a lot of discussion on the regulations attached to drones, a license can be obtained by passing the exam, and much of Delaware airspace is class G. For agriculture, our bigger issue will be avoiding crop dusters during the season. Information on regulations and studying for the exam can be found at the bottom of this page: http://jarrodmiller.weebly.com/drones-and-precision-ag.html
PDF copies of the publications can be found here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331745275_Selecting_a_Drone_for_Crop_Scouting
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329797484_Types_of_Drones_for_Field_Crop_Production
