The U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) does not allow drones for commercial use. Researchers and businesses can apply for a special, experimental airworthiness certificate for research and development. The FAA has however allowed the use of drones by law enforcement agencies creating a backlash of legislation limiting the use of drones by law enforcement on questions of privacy. These concerns have led manufacturers and researchers to focus on drone use in agriculture. Some farmers aren’t waiting for FAA approval and are building their own drones. As long as the drone is flown under 400 feet above ground level, is away from populated areas, and nobody is compensated for the flight, it is considered legal. Drones are already being used in agricultural capacity in Japan and Brazil and research projects are advancing at numerous U.S. universities. Through the use of drones to micro-monitor crops, farmers are able to employ ‘surgical agriculture’ allowing them to be more environmentally friendly while improving output.
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