In a significant leap forward for precision agriculture, Czech agtech startup Skymaps has unveiled an advanced drone-based prescription mapping solution through its CultiWise platform. This innovative system offers farmers a robust alternative to traditional satellite imagery, ensuring reliable real-time mapping even when cloud cover obscures satellite views.
The CultiWise drone, equipped with high-resolution multispectral or RGB cameras, can map up to 200 hectares per flight hour with centimeter-level accuracy. This capability allows farmers to generate precise crop health maps within hours, a stark contrast to the delays often encountered with satellite imagery. The drone’s ability to capture detailed field insights is particularly beneficial in early growth stages and for wide-row crops, where satellite data can be unreliable.
Farmers can now make critical decisions swiftly, optimizing the use of agrochemicals and maximizing yield. The system produces accurate prescription maps that are compatible with sprayers from leading manufacturers such as Amazone, Agrifac, and John Deere. These maps enable variable rate applications, allowing sprayers to adjust nozzle outputs based on real-time crop conditions. This spot-spraying approach targets only the necessary areas, reducing input costs and enhancing sustainability.
The implications of this technology are vast. Farmers can achieve up to 20% cost savings and see a return on investment within the first season. The CultiWise drone is available from €4,200, while subscription to CultiWise’s cloud-based analytics platform starts at €5 per hectare. This makes precision farming more accessible, aligning with future regulations on pesticide and fertilizer use while helping farmers cut costs and boost productivity.
Kornel Cziria, CTO of Skymaps, highlights the practical benefits: “With the new CultiWise feature and compact drone, farmers can capture field data instantly and begin spraying the same day.” This immediacy is crucial for timely interventions, ensuring that crops receive the exact inputs they need at the right moment.
The CultiWise platform already supports over 1,000 farm subscribers and offers local support in 15 countries. As the demand for sustainable and cost-effective farming practices grows, Skymaps’ drone-based solution is poised to revolutionize the way farmers approach crop management. By providing reliable, high-precision data, CultiWise empowers farmers to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to healthier crops and more profitable harvests.