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University of Kentucky lands grant to herd cattle with drones
The University of Kentucky will study how drones can be used in herding beef cattle after receiving a $910,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Researchers with the school’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment will develop a control system for drones that allows the tech to work semi-autonomously near cattle, according to a release. The drones will also adjust operations based on the behavior or movement of animals, helping researchers study how different breeds of cows respond to unmanned aircraft.
“We’ve previously worked on cattle monitoring using drones, but now our team is exploring how these drones can be used for herding,” Josh Jackson, principal investigator and assistant extension professor at the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, said in a statement. “The idea is to see if we can move cattle with drones in an effective and safe way for the animals.”
The drones will also have cameras that can create 3D models of cows from aerial photographs. These models could potentially be used to give ranchers accurate weight estimates, which could streamline livestock management.
“The outcomes could pave the way for more widespread use of drones in agriculture,” Jackson said. “This would offer a new approach to livestock management that saves time, reduces labor and potentially improves animal welfare.”
CropX acquires nitrogen-sensing startup
Farm management platform CropX has acquired EnGeniousAg, a developer of a nitrogen-sensing technology that helps farmers with precise fertilizer application.
CropX will integrate EnGeniousAg’s technology, which uses in-field measurements to report on crop performance, into its agronomic farm management system.
“Acquiring this nitrogen sensor technology underscores CropX’s commitment to providing farmers with one-stop-shop agronomic solutions,” Tomer Tzach, CEO of CropX, said in a statement. “Nitrogen management is a critical, unsolved challenge of modern farming. We are eager to provide a solution with such transformative potential.”
No financial details were disclosed. This is CropX’s sixth acquisition as the company looks to build up a powerful, AI-based management system that aggregates data from in and around the farm.
S2G Ventures invests to expand rural broadband
An investor in rural broadband service providers snagged new funding to help bridge the digital divide in rural and tribal lands.
Amperage Infrastructure Corporation received an undisclosed investment from S2G Ventures to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure, according to a release. Nearly 1 in 4 rural households and roughly 30% of tribal lands lack access to high-speed internet, versus 1.5% of urban households.
“S2G’s perspective is that reliable, affordable high-speed internet is not only crucial for economic growth but also a key driver in advancing energy and agricultural transitions,” Sanjeev Krishnan, managing partner at S2G, said in a statement.
Amperage provides financing and infrastructure to rural internet service providers in order to advance broadband development, recently working with Arkansas provider Aristotle Unified Communications to expand its network to more states. The company also acquired infrastructure development and program management group Ascension Infrastructure Group.
The S2G investment will allow Amperage to partner with leading service providers across the United States.
“We are thrilled to partner with S2G as we advance our mission to expand broadband access in rural communities,” Jack Lawrence, co-founder of Amperage, said in a statement. “The broadband industry in these areas remains largely untapped, which we believe presents significant opportunities for growth.”