Drones Continued from Page 6
Agricultural Market Review
“The technology has just come leaps and bounds,” said Bryan Sanders, RPAAS committee chairman and president of HSE-UAV, a Florida-based agriculture spraying and drone sales company. “It’s literally unrecognizable.” Sanders said farmers are using drones to “reduce water usage, solve labor chal- lenges and apply precise and consistent treatment applications that lower oper- ating costs” and increase yields. Some farmers use drones to drop beneficial in- sects over fields for added pest control. Many farmers who purchase drones for aerial applications from HSE-UAV earn their return on investment with the first year, Sanders said. Bill Reynolds, president of Leading Edge Aerial Technologies, said the com- pany has seen 200% growth in its aerial application contracts over the past year. While already useful for farmers, Reynolds said, the technology continues to improve rapidly. “There’s numerous new features,” in- cluding better spot treatment technol- ogy, enhanced obstacle avoidance and better hovering capabilities on moun- tainous terrain, he said. (Caleb Hampton is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at champton@cfbf.com.)
the technology available to farmers,” said Ansel, the Farm Bureau policy advocate. He added that the goal is ultimately to help farmers “grow fresh fruits and vegetables and feed the nation, and the way for farmers of all sizes to do that is going to be through the use of precision technology, whether it’s in how they use water or how they apply their pesticides.” California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson applauded the signing of the bill. “I am proud that California Farm Bureau is leading the effort to ensure that farmers have access to precision technology,” he said. “With aerial spray technology within reach of all farmers for the first time, this will help them save on crop protection costs by allowing drones to target affected areas instead of entire fields.” With many looking to drones to play a big role in the future of agriculture, industry leaders gathered last week at the Remotely Piloted Aerial Application Systems, or RPAAS, workshop at the University of California, Davis, where they discussed the regulatory land- scape and technological changes to aerial applications.
Quotations are the latest available for the week ending October 6, 2023 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock
Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average
Select & Choice, 1150–1460 lbs., $/cwt.
141-143
181-183
181-183
Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $/cwt. Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales Field crops – basis prompt shipment Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $/bu. trucked Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality * , FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain
92.17
83.63
80.90
116.20
190-205
175-230
72.34
81.65
81.81
No Quote
6.83
6.92
375 (S)
450 (S)
220 (S)
Region 2, Sacramento Valley
No Quote
No Quote
No Quote
Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley
No Quote
165 (F/G)
No Quote
Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley
No Quote
350 (S)
No Quote
Region 5, Southern California
No Quote
No Quote 18 (P, per bale)
Region 6, Southeast Interior
390 (P)
No Quote
No Quote
Rice – Milled #1 Head, FOB No. Calif. mills Medium grain, $ per cwt.
68-72
70-72
70-72
Provided by the California Farm Bureau as a service to Farm Bureau members. Information supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Branch. * ADF=Acid detergent fiber; (S) = Supreme/<27%ADF; (P) = Premium/27-29; (G) = Good/29-32; (F) = Fair/32-35.
2023 Retirement Plan
Enjoy a special bourbon and a locally sourced dinner to benefit the California Farm Bureau Federation Fund to Protect the Family Farm (FarmPAC ® ).
Ticket: $125 Purchase tickets by Thursday, Nov. 9
WHEN: Friday, November 17 WHERE: CE Becker & Sons 298 Biggs East Hwy Biggs, CA 95917
California’s state retirement plan mandate expanded on January 1 to include those employers with one or more employees. Ensure you are prepared to comply with the new California retirement plan mandate. Join us at one of our webinars presented by Nationwide. For a list of class dates and to register, visit cfbf.com/FBE or call (800) 698-FARM for assistance. You will receive a Zoom link and details two days prior to your selected webinar date. Members, enjoy access to free classes! Register for the upcoming webinars.
To purchase tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, visit cfbf.com/farmpac or scan the QR code.
Event Hosts: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas-Sierra, Tehama and Yuba-Sutter County Farm Bureaus.
16 Ag Alert October 11, 2023
Powered by FlippingBook