Grant to aid drone-assisted pastureland study
A Missouri State University agriculture professor has received a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study the integration of pastureland and black walnut forests.
The federal agency awarded Michael Goerndt, an associate professor in the School of Agricultural Science and Conservation, for his project: “Adaptation of Pasture and Forestland to Silvopasture and Black Walnut Systems in Southern Missouri.”
Goerndt and his team will collect data in traditional ways, such as measuring plants and soil. They will also use drones with advanced sensors to create detailed maps of how trees and grass grow and stay healthy over time.
PHOTO: Large industrial drone with thermal camera. (Adobe Stock │ #437787201 – SobrevolandPatagonia)
