Photo: Norm Lamothe
This drone is planting red clover as a cover crop over an existing field of winter wheat at Woodleigh Farms in Cavan. Planting a cover crop like this would normally be performed by a tractor while the soil was still firm, but wet conditions this spring prevented this traditional approach. Farm operator Norm Lamothe operated a drone business when this technology was first being introduced into the agricultural community, so it was not a difficult decision to elect to spread seed with a drone this season.
Woodleigh Farms is a sixth generation family farm operation with 500 acres on and around the homestead on Sharpe Line producing crops, maple syrup, flowers, fruit and vegetables.
While the business may have historic roots, it continues to survive and thrive through hard work and by anticipating and adapting to new market realities.
Since taking over responsibilities for managing the farm operations, Norm Lamothe has shown a curiosity and aptitude for finding ways to improve the efficiency of its operations while improving its sustainability. Sometimes this means reverting back to historic practises such as crop rotation, cover crops, composting and relying primarily on organic rather than commercial fertilizers. He also built an 1800 square foot passive solar greenhouse where the market garden plants get their start.
Norm is also an early-adopter of technology on the farm. For several years he was a dealer for Ag Eagle, a US-based producer of drones designed specifically for use in agriculture. Operating infrared cameras, input gathered by these flying machines have been used for years to create field-specific planting and fertilizer strategies that optimize the use of inputs and to monitoring crop health to help deliver timely intervention when problems on the field arise.
This spring, wet weather was preventing him from planting a cover crop of clover on a field of winter wheat, which must be done when the ground is still firm. Cover crops are not harvested but are planted to cover the soil to reduce erosion and weeds, and are plowed under to boost the health and productivity of the field. As the temperatures climbed, the window to plant the clover by tractor was closing, so he decided to spread the seed using a drone.
Drone technology has improved dramatically in the past few years. Aerial seeding is particularly applicable to cover crops. The seeds are dropped from the air, not planted in the ground like they are with a traditional seed drill or planter. This means the seed is on the soil, not in it, increasing the risk that the rate of seed germination could be lower. This makes the process more applicable to cover crops rather than cash crops, where germination is critical. It also means that conditions such as wind and rain are more problematic as seed is more easily blown or washed away.
Drones offer a technology that can have a dramatic impact on the sustainability of farm operations by significantly reducing the emissions created by traditional farming techniques. As drone technology continues to evolve, more applications will emerge, allowing farmers to target pests and nutritional deficiencies in specific parts of a field without firing up a big machine.
Last week, Lamothe was recognized by Green Economy Peterborough in their third annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards which celebrates the efforts of local businesses to reduce their environmental impact. The organization commended him for his commitment to regenerative and sustainable farming practices and for his generosity in sharing his knowledge with others in the business and farming community by hosting learning events and making presentations. Woodleigh Farms is currently piloting a project that turns waste wood into biochar, a beneficial soil amendment that sequesters carbon for thousands of years.
This local farm is leading the charge to find ways to take their family business into a new era, one that incorporates historical wisdom with modern technology to ensure agriculture remains a vital part of our past as well as our future. KG