Funding announced for drone-based weed detection in North Dakota

By Scout Nelson

North Dakota's Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has recently announced the availability of $275,000 in grant funding. This funding is dedicated to projects that utilize drone technology for the detection of Palmer amaranth and other noxious weeds, a strategic move authorized by the 68th Legislative Assembly.

The state's Department of Agriculture is actively seeking proposals for this innovative drone detection project. The primary focus will be on sugar beet and soybean fields across four counties—Traill, Cass, Richland, and Barnes—especially in areas with a history of Palmer amaranth presence.

Grant recipients will collaborate closely with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, local weed officers, and landowners for drone operations in the designated fields. Importantly, the confidentiality of locations identified with weed detections will be maintained, with disclosures limited to the county level.

The grant opportunity is open to multiple awardees. Those interested in applying can find complete details and application instructions on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) website.

The deadline for electronic submissions is noon CST on December 29, 2023. A committee will review, score, and rank applications to determine the final grant recipients.

For further information or inquiries, individuals can contact Richard Weisz at 701-328-2250 or raweisz@nd.gov.

Photo Credit - pexels-flo-dnd