Hi-tech drone systems could replace farmers in the field

The drone system can go out into the field and locate the heads of cattle, sending back a detailed report to the farmer that includes the location and health status of the animal.

 The automatic drones that can replace the Israeli farmer (photo credit: BEEFREE AGRO)
The automatic drones that can replace the Israeli farmer
(photo credit: BEEFREE AGRO)

Noam Azran and Dvir Cohen, two farmers from Upper Galilee, developed an automatic farming system that uses special drones and optimizes outdated work methods.

The system, called “Joe” – after the shepherd dog that was the inspiration for the idea – will be presented at the Agromashov agricultural exhibition. The exhibition will be held September 5-6 at Jerusalem’s International Convention Center, where various agricultural developments will be presented.

Azran and Cohen founded the company out of a need to optimize traditional and outdated work methods and put an end to the exhausting daily routine of cattle farmers while utilizing an easy and user-friendly interface without the need for technological training.

“Joe” is a sophisticated system. After calculating a route, it can go out into the field and locate the heads of cattle, sending back a detailed report to the farmer that includes the location and health status of the animals.

The system is also able to identify and report on the condition of the field and other problems such as breaches in the fence, an empty water trough, a calving cow and intruders; issues that can cost even the most experienced farmer many hours of work.

Agromshov Agricultural Exhibition

The Agromashov exhibition is being held for the 31st year. It is the leading and largest exhibition in Israel for agriculture, with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of farmers and entrepreneurs from the field of agriculture.