Here are some detailed examples from South Dakota State University Extension on how unmanned aerial systems or "drones" can help ranchers work more efficiently and effectively.

A proposal to use drones in the United Kingdom to flag areas with serious erosion issues seems to be getting traction. Should this be done in the U.S.?

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research dryland wheat variety nursery near Bushland is being monitored weekly by drone flights, offering wheat breeders a chance to see changes on a more real-time basis.

The Climate Corporation partners with Deveron UAS to deliver farmers advanced aerial imagery data combined with powerful analytics.

Matt Strein with AeroVironment discusses the new Quantix unmanned aerial vehicle solution. The hybrid aircraft combines features of a quadcopter and fixed-wing models. A vertical launch and transition to horizontal flight allows for 400 acres of coverage and up to 45 minutes of flight time.

By simplifying some of the certification restrictions, the new Part 107 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) regulations will expand drone technology use for agriculture and other commercial purposes.

The FAA's new rules on unmanned aerial vehicles should make it easier for you to use these machines to monitor crop and livestock and obtain data for improved decision making on your farm.