Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore how drone technology is advancing agricultural health research beyond its traditional uses. Mason McCulley shares his master’s research on developing a drone-mounted air monitoring system designed to measure air quality around livestock facilities. The conversation covers the challenges of building and testing the technology, the role of UAVs in collecting three-dimensional air quality data, and the potential for these innovative tools to improve our understanding of agricultural exposures and support healthier farming communities.

Episode Resources

Iowa Farmers See Promise in Drones, but Express High Levels of Uncertainty About Impacts, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach [News Article]

Starting with Drone Technology on Your Farm, Doug Houser, Integrated Crop Management, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach [Blog]

How Farmers and Livestock Producers are Using Drones, Another Tool in the Toolbox, Harvest Public Media [Podcast]

Agriculture and Air Quality, EPA [Webpage]

GPCAH Current Research Project: Design and Evaluation of a Control Technology for Dust and Bioaerosol in Swin Buildings, GPCAH [Webpage]