Technology continues to change the world as we know it — and that includes agriculture. Agriculture drones have become essential and powerful tools for growers. At Champion Seed, our agronomy team is using them to help our growers overcome challenges and make informed decisions about their operations with greater precision. By providing aerial insights through high-resolution imagery and sensors, we can monitor crop health, detect pest infestations and assess soil conditions in real time. This technology makes field management more efficient by enabling growers like you to respond quickly to changing conditions, offering the chance to optimize inputs like fertilizer and pesticides while maximizing yields.

Each DJI drone we use is equipped with advanced cameras for image capture. Our DJI Inspire carries a Sentera Double 4K camera, while another model features a single 4K lens with thermal imaging capabilities. Using Sentera’s Field Agent software, we download drone footage to generate detailed imagery reports. These reports consist of multiple layers of imagery scans, each serving a unique purpose to provide deeper insights into the same field.

Advantages of multilayer drone imagery in farming

Multilayer drone imagery offers significant advantages by providing a comprehensive view of crop health and field conditions. The Sentera camera offers four distinct imagery layers: RGB (red, green, blue), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index), NIR (near-infrared), and thermal imagery.

  • RGB provides a standard, color-based view of the field that serves as the foundation for all other analyses. We can choose between a pre-programmed flight path that captures images in a pattern or manually take photos as needed.
  • NDVI evaluates crop health by analyzing color and near-infrared data. It measures plant vigor across the field.

NDVI image example

  • NIR imagery helps us make more accurate plant health assessments by going beyond what the human eye can see. By sending infrared waves that reflect off the ground, this camera reveals details that traditional images cannot capture.

NIR image example

  • Thermal imagery helps us monitor soil temperature, identifying variations in real time. This can be particularly useful for detecting temperature contrasts in the soil before or after planting.

Thermal image example

Population counts from agriculture drone images improve field management

We use population counts to analyze plant density. Each image is processed through the Sentera program to individually identify and count plants, generating an estimated population per acre. This technology is particularly effective for corn and soybeans from the V2 stage to canopy, and again for corn after full tassel. These images help identify issues such as low population, poor germination or declining plant health.

Population count example

See what our agriculture drones can do for your operation

With drone images, we can assess plant vigor, detect stress, monitor soil temperature and track population density with greater accuracy. These insights enable timely interventions, optimize resource usage and improve decision-making, paving the way for healthier crops, higher yields and reduced costs. By leveraging multilayer drone data, we can help you make more informed, data-driven choices that enhance your farm’s efficiency and sustainability.

Champion Seed’s investment in this cutting-edge technology is an investment in meeting your needs as a grower. We aim to ensure you have the best tools for success. Talk to our team about what we can do for you.

Sentera’s Field Agent software