The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a $300,000 project grant under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program to North Carolina State University (NC State) for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
The project aims to demonstrate and evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for frost-seeding and timely seeding of forages, evaluate the effects of bale grazing on frost-seeding and nutrient distribution, and provide training on the use of electric fence, frost-seeding, and bale grazing. The project will target cropland, tree-planted areas, and pastures to provide forage for grazing livestock and floral resources while stabilizing soils in the region affected by Hurricane Helene. The project is expected to operate at least three UAV units for 15-20 days to support frost-seeding efforts across a minimum of 960 acres, and reach at least 200 people through in-person field activities, including land and livestock managers, extension agents, and farm advisors.
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