Victorian farmer Wayne Lording sits on his verandah, sips a cuppa and sends his drone to check the horses and cows.
A qualified helicopter pilot, Mr Lording is also building Australia's first agriculture-specific drone.
"Farmers have got to look at better and more cost-effective ways to manage their properties and drones are the best way to do it" Mr Lording told AAP on Thursday.
Mr Lording hopes to equip the $5000 drone with many small cameras and a small tank to spray weeds.
The Yea-based farmer often uses drones to check his cattle, saving time going out on horseback, by tractor, or car.
"Sometimes I just sit on the back verandah having a cuppa. I'll send the drone out to look at the water troughs and see if the horses are okay. That saves me a lot of time" he told AAP.
He is still looking at ways to extend the drone's 30-minute flight time.
"Flight times are the biggest problem for agriculturalists" he said.
Mr Lording will be at the Avalon Airshow with his homemade drone and will speak about how technology can improve farming practices.
Avalon Airshow spokesman Tom Bennett said drones were already being used on farms, but were set to be much more widely used as the technology developed.
"Drones are the fastest growing in the sector of Australian aviation," Mr Bennett told AAP.
The conference will showcase a range of drones and their use in search and rescue, emergency services, industry and for amateur enthusiasts.
The Avalon Airshow will be held at the Avalon Airport from March 3 to 5 near Geelong.
Share
