This company sells a range of drones for spraying crops (Agras series) and also for mapping areas. There is a lot of technical information on their web site about the performance of the various models.
Plantix is a free mobile phone app to identify pests, diseases and deficiencies on crops. Images are uploaded on WhatsApp.
OptiNet is a patented anti-insect network that integrates physical and optical protection. It reduces the number of pests entering the growing environment, especially Thysanoptera, whiteflies and leaf miners. The netting contains optical (non-toxic) additives that blind and repel insects.
PredaLure is a pheromone lure that attracts beneficial insects to crops and gardens to feed on destructive insect pests. PredaLure is encapsulated in a controlled release packet, the proprietary membrane releases effective rates of the attractant for several weeks. The PredaLure dispensers should be placed at crop height equidistant from each other or in "hot spots" where control is needed. It will attract lady beetles, Orius, Phytoseiulus, lacewings, hoverflies.
Thrips-Lure is a controlled release dispenser of potent attractant to attract thrips in close proximity to a blue or yellow sticky card. Growers can use it to monitor thrips in low population situations or early before thrips become established. Thrips-Lure has the potential to mass trap thrips and keep populations low in crops. Research at LSU demonstrated that yellow sticky cards placed next to Thrips-Lure caught an average of 3 times more than untreated cards. Other university trials have shown the active ingredients in Thrips-Lure increase capture by 1.8-8 times more on sticky cards or water traps.
Sticky traps baited with these lures consistently caught more (2× to 12×) flies than unbaited sticky traps. The lure appeared to remain effective over time in the field with only a decrease in potency after 39 days. Results indicated that both male and female seed corn maggot adults were caught on cards with a 4:1 to 2:1 male sex ratio bias on baited and unbaited cards, respectively. This lure may prove efficacious in assisting growers with IPM trapping and sampling procedures for purposes such as determining fly-free periods for planting crops such as beans, and pre-harvest insecticide application needs for crops such as onion.
The device transmits infrared, invisible light across flying insects and automatically detects the back reflected light of each individual insect. This allows it to accurately measure the wing beat frequency, colour and wing to body ratio of insects flying through the sensor’s monitoring volume. The technique can scout for many insect species at once providing real-time insights into in-field insect populations and activity. Species-specific insect activity data combined with time, geo-location and environmental data are an input to digital farming solutions and the aim is to offer data integration between in-field sensors and farming software platforms. There are no products on the market yet.
iSCOUT® is an insect trap with integrated electronics (camera system, modem, power source with solar panel) and sticky plate. It can be hung wherever in the field it is needed, due to its low weight. In the field, the device is self-sufficient, as it is powered by a solar panel and a battery. A 10 MP camera takes high-resolution pictures of the sticky plate within the iSCOUT® trap. Images are sent via LTE to the FieldClimate platform where they are analyzed with AI (artificial intelligence) software. The results are then visible on web or mobile devices. As a result, we see the photo with rectangles around the target insect, as well as summarized data of the daily count, targets in total and development of insect population during the season. Control is real-time and the collected data can be used for further analysis.
The Planticus disease detection system consists of small wearable camera devices that are placed inside the greenhouse or in open fields to detect diseases in tomato crops. These devices gather images and process them using an AI algorithm, providing feedback to the farmer through an online dashboard. By using existing workers and vehicles and equipping them with small camera devices, a continuous monitoring system is established that can give an early warning in case of anomalies.
DroplegUL is an under-leaf application technique that enables plant protection products to be applied within the crop. Upward, horizontal and top down spray applications are possible. It is a light device and can be easily mounted on most boom sprayers. It is intended to provide more uniform coverage and better spray deposition on the lower canopy or lower side of leaves. It may also reduce spray drift compared with conventional application techniques.
