Karoo farming done in style with drone

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Drones are seen by many as a hobby gadget, but some local farmers are finding the technology increasingly useful in their day to day operations.

A farmer in the Aberdeen district, who wished to remain unnamed, makes regular use of his drone for inspections of water troughs and small herds of animals.

The drone enables him to take photos of a herd and count it later on. “I also assist my workers in gathering sheep and cattle,” he explained to the Advertiser. “I equip them with radios and direct them to the whereabouts of the animals, which is particularly useful in the bush areas.”

Thanks to his drone, the farmer is now able to gather the animals in a shorter time. He went on to say that to a limited extent, he also uses it to chase animals, but that is done with caution regarding nearby fences.

Like most technology, the functions available on drones increase all the time. Later models with infra-red allow expansion to night surveillance and crop management and can be helpful for security.

Useful hints from the farmer who is successfully using a drone include careful research on the flight time of the batteries and a range of at least three to four kilometres from the base. With the extreme heat and often high winds that are experienced in the area, it is also important to look for a drone that can stand weather conditions.

A photo of a scenic waterfall on an Abardeen farm, found by a drone and its pilot.

Whilst some feel that the size of many Karoo farms and the distances involved are limiting factors, those who have done their research and found models to suit their needs, have commented on the great advantages in saving time and effort.

The opportunity for scenic photographs of the landscape is an added bonus.

These kudu would have been difficult to locate on foot, but thanks to a drone an Aberdeen farmer could place them.