HONOLULU (AP) - A Hawaii farmer says he's ready to incorporate high-tech flying into his agriculture operations.
Richard Ha of Hamakua Springs says he has volunteered his 600-acre farm on the Big Island for a pilot project using cameras mounted in drones to look for problems in crops.
KITV-TV reported that the small flying machines can detect plant diseases, weed density and nutrition levels in crops.
Ha says information from unmanned aerial vehicles is relayed in real time and problems are detected more quickly.
Researchers from Cal State Fullerton are in Kualoa Valley developing a program for use in California.
University of Hawaii staffers also hope to start an unmanned aerial vehicle program.
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