Remote-Sensing Aids Designed for Wildlife Management
Wildlife damage during crop production causes yield and quality losses that lead to diminished profits.
Many farmers experience wildlife damage during crop production each year. This damage causes yield and quality losses that lead to diminished profits. Wildlife damage to U.S. agriculture was reported to be at $944 million during 2001 (USDA, NASS-2002). In New York State, particularly, fresh market products are facing severe profit cuts due to wildlife damage. There is another issue concerning wildlife in produce fields and that is the potential for microbial contamination of the crops from animal feces and increased susceptibility to other pests and pathogens (Pritts, 2001; Duffy and Schaffner, 2002; Holb and Scherm, 2008).
Diagram of laser bird repellers designed by Precision Agriculture Specialist Ali Nafchi.
Courtesy of Ali Nafchi / Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Telenko et. al, conducted small plot trials of bird damage in sweet corn (2015-2017) that showed devastating economic losses for farmers. Being able to manage birds in larger fields is the next step. Large-scale plantings can attract many more birds; therefore, the management options need to be updated.
To implement this project, Precision Agriculture Specialist Ali Nafchi has designed two new laser systems that will be tested this year in our region. Type (a) will have a programmed variable pattern laser beam across the field to scare birds. Type (b) has a radar detector that will turn on the laser beam when birds come near the field. Solar panels will power the devices. Once the designs are tested and optimized, growers will be able to build the scare devices themselves.
This is a fascinating approach to tackling wildlife damage! I’m particularly interested in the potential for farmers to build these laser repellers themselves. Are there any preliminary estimates on the cost of materials and the skills required for construction?
It would be great to know if this solution is accessible to smaller farms with limited resources. Also, I wonder how effective these laser systems are against different bird species, and whether the birds eventually become habituated to the beams. Looking forward to hearing more about the results of the field tests! Are there future plans to explore remote sensing techniques for managing other types of wildlife, such as deer or rodents?
This is really interesting! Especially the part about using laser systems to scare away birds and prevent crop damage. I wonder if math ai free could help in optimizing the laser patterns for maximum bird deterrence and efficiency in larger fields?
This is really interesting! I’ve been looking into ways to help manage wildlife damage on crops, and it’s great to see innovative solutions like these laser systems. Speaking of solutions, I found math ai free which could help with calculating crop yields and loss estimates due to wildlife. I am excited to see the results of the laser system tests; hopefully, it helps farmers reduce losses!
It’s interesting how remote sensing is being used to help farmers with wildlife management. I wonder if these new laser systems being tested will be effective in scaring away birds and reducing crop damage. If you’re in the Cincinnati area, you might want to check cincinnati radar to see if weather patterns are affecting bird activity near farms.