July 2023 - 4

EDITOR'S LETTER
Bridging farming's
tech age gap
D
rones are great for spotting trouble areas in orchards that a
grower might otherwise not find. In talking with growers for a
series of articles on drone use for specialty crops, however, an
age gap or technological division has emerged between older growers
and their more tech-savvy offspring.
One reason may be that tech can be difficult
for many people.
Martin Hein, co-owner of Hein Ranch Co.,
Visalia, California, said he sees a divide.
Younger growers and those that have youth
coming into their farming businesses are
adapting to the new technologies. Those
without younger generations who wish to stay
in the business are not embracing technology,
and are the ones more likely to be seen at farm auctions selling
their operations.
" The farms that aren't continuing on multi-generations or aren't
corporate and structured that are requiring the ESG (environmental,
social, and governance) format, they're reluctant to use this
technology, " Hein said.
The younger generations are embracing technology and are taking
classes that prominently feature drones. All business-related use
of drones, such as those operated on farms, are considered
commercial flights and operators must be licensed by the Federal
Aviation Administration.
Hein recalls the disappointment he felt when he opened his first
drone package. After flying others' drones, his excitement to receive
his own turned to being ready to cry when he discovered he couldn't
just plug and play and start operating immediately. The company Hein
co-owns, FlyingAg, tests the drones and software before sending them
to grower customers.
" Farmers are pretty simple people, " Hein said. " You're supposed to
be able to get into it. It's supposed to work, and if it doesn't work, then I
don't have time for it. The more people we get using this technology the
better we will be. "
Margaux, Hein's 24-year-old daughter who recently finished her
Masters in agronomy from Cornell, is an instrument-rated and
commercial drone pilot who works full-time with her father.
By showing their elders the relative ease of flying drones (some
units only require the pushing of a button on the controller) and
demonstrating how the tech can save growers work, perhaps the
younger generation can encourage more of their elders to look
favorably on the tech.
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JULY 2023 | VOLUME 62 | ISSUE 7
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July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2023
