Drones incorporated to detect agriculture problems

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HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii farmer says he’s ready to incorporate high-tech flying into his agriculture operations.

HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii farmer says he’s ready to incorporate high-tech flying into his agriculture operations.

Richard Ha of Hamakua Springs says he has volunteered his 600-acre farm on the Big Island for a pilot project using cameras mounted in drones to look for problems in crops.

The small flying machines can detect plant diseases, weed density and nutrition levels in crops.

Ha says information from unmanned aerial vehicles is relayed in real time and problems are detected more quickly.

Researchers from Cal State Fullerton are in Kualoa Valley developing a UAV program for use in California.

University of Hawaii staff also hopes to start an unmanned aerial vehicle program.