In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, technology continues to play a pivotal role in boosting efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. One of the most transformative innovations in recent years is the use of drones—unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—for precision agriculture calculations.

Gone are the days when farmers had to rely solely on manual inspections and guesswork. Today, drones are providing real-time, data-driven insights that help farmers make smarter decisions and use resources more efficiently.

What is Precision Agriculture?

Precision agriculture is a farming strategy that uses data analysis and technology to optimize field-level management with regard to crop farming. It involves monitoring variables such as soil conditions, crop health, moisture levels, and more—often with pinpoint accuracy.

Enter the Drone

Equipped with high-resolution cameras, multispectral sensors, and GPS technology, modern drones can fly over agricultural fields to gather a wealth of information...

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Figure caption: Drone imagery captured with A) RGB and B) multispectral cameras. These images are of the same agricultural field planted in soybeans, using a combination of hundreds of photos “stitched” together to create a highly detailed image called an orthomosaic.

Verifying, or “ground truthing” cover crops usage and tillage practices in agricultural fields is a detailed, multi-step process that can quickly become time-consuming and repetitive. Waterborne’s team of scientists set out to streamline this effort by finding more efficient ways to collect accurate, field-level data. That goal was recently realized through the successful application of ArcGIS Survey123 in a client project, combining mobile data collection and smart routing to support conservation efforts and sustainable land management.

We began by developing a survey to capture key conservation practice indicators. It included questions about 1) the presence of cover crops, 2) the specific cover crop species used, 3) whether tillage practices were observed, and 4) the type of tillage method applied. To support visual verification through the ArcGIS Survey 123 process, our scientists were required to take a photo of each field as part of their submission.

Once the survey was developed, we enhanced it by incorporating route optimization software. This allowed us to organize the order of field visits based on several criteria, including minimum travel time, shortest overall distance, and custom preferences such as starting with the field farthest from the initial location. By aligning the survey workflow with an optimized route, we minimized travel time and maximized productivity in the field. 

What we found is that ArcGIS Survey123...

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This year’s CLA & RISE Regulatory Conference, hosted by CropLife America (CLA) and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), gathered professionals from across the agricultural and environmental sectors for an agenda packed with discussions on ongoing regulatory issues and new priorities emerging in light of the recent administrative changes in Washington.

Waterborne's Nathan Snyder, Principal Agricultural Engineer, was in attendance throughout the Arlington, Virginia conference, from April 23 to 25.

Held annually, CLA & RISE is an opportunity to hear directly from key government staff, including representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA OPP). This year's topics focused on ensuring that pesticide use remains protective of ecological health while enabling productive agricultural practices. Nathan has reported back with his summary of this year's sessions:

Opening Remarks and Keynote: The conference kicked off with opening commentary from CLA’s VP of Science Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Dr. Manojit Basu, and CLA President & CEO, Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, who outlined the organization’s 2025 policy priorities.

• A compelling keynote was delivered by Dr. Lynn Ann Dekleva, Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). Dr. Dekleva offered a forward-looking perspective on the future of pesticide regulation, highlighting emerging challenges and opportunities for innovation.
• EPA OPP Leadership Panel:
• A standout session for many attendees, including Nathan, was the return of the EPA OPP Leadership Panel

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Record Shattered: Scientists Extract 1.2 Million-Year-Old Climate Record From Antarctic Ice: As part of the European-funded Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice project, an international research team successfully completed a critical drilling campaign and reached a depth of 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) where the Antarctic ice sheet meets the bedrock.

Water planning across U.S. threatened by termination of USGS Water Science Center leases:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will lose leases for 25 Water Science Centers under a new federal directive, potentially disrupting data collection critical for drought response, flood prediction, and water rights enforcement across dozens of states.

Trump orders tech modernization push for environmental permitting: Under the executive order, agencies must make full use of tech in environmental review and permitting processes for “infrastructure projects of all kinds.”