Drone Registration

Users who fly drones for fun may soon have to register their machines. A new task force has been charged with recommending a registration process for unmanned aircraft systems used for recreational purposes.

So where does that leave the farmers. Dr. Deon van der Merwe is a Kansas State University professor who is heavily involved in the development of modern drone technology for use in agricultural applications. "The use of drones has matured in the last couple of years because of the maturation of technology." But farmers who want to use drones in their operations for activities like crop scouting and checking on livestock will still have to wait until the Federal Aviation Administration issues its final rules that would govern the use of small UAS in agriculture and other enterprises, said Peggy Hall, an agricultural and resource law field specialist at Ohio State University Extension's.

The proposed regulations, which FAA published last spring, would require commercial operators to comply with a certification process, which includes passing an exam. Operators would also have to register and maintain the aircraft and follow limitations on aircraft operation, said Hall, who is also an assistant professor for OSU Extension.  "Those rules for using small UAS in agriculture and other enterprises likely won't be announced until sometime in 2016. FAA is working to create a special category that allows for small drone usage, which right now is not permitted unless you have a special exemption from FAA."