Agriculture Officials Urge Drone Rule Changes

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana agricultural officials have asked the federal government to loosen restrictions on the use of pilotless aerial vehicles.

The Advocate reports the Federal Aviation Administration is modifying drone regulations and is expected to release proposed rules in November.

LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor Rogers Leonard says Louisiana farmers have embraced the new technology.

For example, farmers can use the camera-equipped drones to check irrigation water flow in fields more quickly than doing so on foot or by tractor or truck.

Leonard says current FAA rules make this illegal, even if the farmer owns the fields over which the drone is flying.