U of I researchers aim to help farmers by improving production, irrigation
Alipour said the team is developing ways to monitor soil and crop moisture with drones; the drones use a sensor that allow them to see through the plant and into the soil.
From the Farm: Illinois FFA announces 2025 Star Farmer from Taylorville
'The end goal of the project is for the farmers to be able to detect early signs of water stress in their plants so they can make smarter decisions about their plants during the growing season,' Alipour said.
Many farms in Illinois don't have irrigation systems, which can negatively impact their crops. But, Alipour said if farmers can detect droughts early, then they can adjust and improve production.
'It's really about turning complex data into, really, a clear, impactful insight for the farmers,' he said.
The Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) and the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) teamed up to help fund the project. Along with Alipour, the research team includes Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist and PRI research scientist, Elahe Soltanaghai, assistant computer science professor at the U of I and CDA affiliate, and Adam Watts from the USDA Forest Service.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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