27 IREC Farmers' Newsletter No. 198 — Spring 2017 DRONE AND TECHNOLOGY DAY l  The Drone and Technology Day was a cross- commodity event hosted by IREC, Deakin University and Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc. It provided a forum to share new knowledge on drones and technology with irrigators, industry, researchers, educators, agencies and government. l  Practical ways of using drones on farm was discussed, as well as the advantages that drones offer over satellite and aerial monitoring of crops and farms. l  A series of case studies was presented, showing different ways of using sensors fitted to drones to manage irrigation, nutrition and disease in annual and permanent plantings. Drones are the new kid on the smart agriculture block. They provide cheap, timely and targeted collection of data from annual and permanent crops. Iva Quarisa Executive Officer, IREC SMART Ag was the theme of the Drone and Technology Day held in Griffith, in June 2017. The day, hosted by IREC, Deakin University and Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc., provided a unique opportunity for irrigators, advisors and researchers to learn all about the practical application of drones, as well as some new technologies being developed by Deakin University. Closer and more accurate images Keynote speaker of the event was remote sensing expert Dr John Sulik from the US company, MicaSense. Dr Sulik explained that remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance. In the past, remote sensors were mounted on satellites and aircraft but now they can be mounted on drones. QUICK TAKE Drones provide a way to collect less expensive, more timely, more target-specific and higher resolution images of fields, than is possible with satellites or aircraft. IMAGE: John Hornbuckle