Students learn, use precision agriculture

Two students in the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis (IESA) at the University of North Georgia (UNG) are already applying what they have learned in their classes to make an impact in the emerging field of precision agriculture.

Wyn Huey and Michael McGee hosted a drone demonstration Oct. 18 at UNG's Gainesville Campus for Jane Hemmer, a Hall County Soil and Water Conservation District board member and UNG Foundation trustee; other board members; students; and community members.

Hemmer, who raises beef cattle and pork on her farm that's been in her family for more than 200 years, was excited to see the technology in action. She sees great potential for precision agriculture within Hall County. She is grateful to see UNG training students to serve in this way in the local workforce.

"It's just another way in which the University of North Georgia is growing and adapting to the needs of this community," Hemmer said.

"Supercharging workforce development" is one of President Michael Shannon's seven strategic big bets for UNG's future released Oct. 2 in a white paper titled "Bold Forward: Running into our Calling."

Wyn Huey started his time as a UNG student in 2017 and is a senior pursuing a degree in environmental spatial analysis. Huey, a Buford, Georgia, native, gained inspiration from his "remote sensing of the environment" class with Dr. Amber Ignatius, last year before launching Spearhead Agriculture to mobilize drones in precision agriculture.

"Without this kind of degree, it would be extremely difficult. It's not just picking up a controller and flying it around. There's a lot that goes into the actual application of chemicals and everything else," Huey said. "The ability to give back has always been something I've enjoyed doing and take great pride in. To be able to offer this as a service to farmers and the community, I love it. It's amazing."

Ignatius is grateful to see her students applying the knowledge they gained in IESA.

"Geospatial science is inherently technological, fast-changing and an innovative discipline," Ignatius said. "The recent advancements in precision agriculture showcase one way geospatial technology can be used to improve efficiency for people and the environment."

Michael McGee, a fellow student who works with Huey, began his higher education at Kennesaw State University before leaving to become an automotive mechanic. After getting some certifications in that industry, McGee came to UNG looking to do something new. He appreciates the respect he receives from UNG faculty members and the chance to collaborate with them.

"When you actually get on your feet in terms of understanding the knowledge and interpreting the data, that's when it really gets interesting. At that point, you start to really see the potential of this technology," McGee said. "The beautiful thing about it is the Earth is always changing. There's always something new to measure and look at. There's no way you would ever have a repetitive day at work."

Dr. Steven Fleming, an IESA professor and retired Army colonel, is thankful to see students like Huey and McGee tapping into emerging technologies.

"This technology allows us to monitor the needs of crops and then spray the necessary fertilizers and/or pesticides from the drones," Fleming said. "Moving forward, artificial intelligence will help this field continue to grow through smart spatial systems that autonomously recognize farmers' needs and then meet them."

McGee, a Cumming, Georgia, native, is also pursuing a degree in environmental spatial analysis. Huey and McGee are partnering on research with UNG's Dr. Sudhanshu Panda and Fort Valley State University faculty, as well as faculty from universities in South Africa and Ireland. Panda and the other researchers have a $750,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) grant that runs from 2022-25.

Panda's USDA-NIFA grant research has two main elements: a cellphone app to detect sick animals so treatment can start sooner, plus the precision agriculture use of drones to give farmers the proper data to best care for their fields.

"At heart, all of us are really more interested in the science. That's what backs up the practical application of anything," McGee said. "If we can find a way to roll the knowledge we get through this program and hone it by working more closely with this field through research assistant positions, we can see where the agriculture industry could be going in the future."