Farmers’ Work Gets Help From Above
美國農人愛用無人飛機
By Julie Turkewitz

NUNN, Colo. – As the sun peeks over the fields of organic grain in this grassy patch of the state, some mornings, a dark dot appears in the sky as well, and a loud buzz slices through the pastoral scene.
某些個早晨，當太陽窺探美國科羅拉多州（南恩小鎮）這一片綠油油地帶的有機麥田之際，有個小黑點也會同時在空中出現，發出嘈雜的嗡嗡聲，劃破這片田園景色。

It is a drone, and its pilot is a farmer named Jean Hediger, one of a growing number of American agrarians who have taken to using unmanned aircraft – better known for their use in war, far from the wheat fields of eastern Colorado – to gather information about the health of their crops.
這是架無人機，操作的人是農民珍．海德格。越來越多美國農民用無人機蒐集作物健康狀況的資訊，她正是其中之一。無人機更為人知的是它的戰爭用途，而戰場離科羅拉多州東部這片麥田可遠了。

In doing so, these farmers are breaking the law. It is illegal to fly drones for commercial purposes without federal permission, and those who do so risk penalties in the thousands of dollars. But the technology holds such promise that many farmers are using it anyway, dotting rural skies with devices saddled with tiny video cameras.
這些農民使用無人機的行為犯了法。不經聯邦政府許可就為商業目的使用無人機是違法行為，可能被罰幾千美元。不過，無人機科技的潛力大到讓農民無論如何都要用它，這也使得安裝了迷你攝影機的無人機遍布在鄉間的空中。

“This has really become a big deal in ag,” said Ms. Hediger, who is in her early 60s.
60歲出頭的海德格說：「無人機真的成了了不起的農業工具。」

“Our intent is pure,” she added. “Without being able to fly drones over our fields, they are asking us to remain in the dark ages.”
她說：「我們的想法很單純。叫我們不能在田裡使用無人機，他們等於要求我們停留在黑暗時代。」

Soon, however, farmers may be able to fly their drones openly.
不過，或許要不了多久，農民就可以光明正大地使用無人機了。

In February, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed new rules that would allow people to fly small unmanned aircraft for commercial reasons. If the regulations are approved, there will be implications across the country: Drones could be used by construction workers, firefighters, filmmakers and others.
美國聯邦航空總署2月推出新法規草案，該案允許人們為商業目的使用小型無人機，如果草案獲通過，對全美各行各業都會有影響，建築工人、消防隊員、電影導演和其他人都能使用無人機。

But few are as excited about this technology as farmers.
不過，很少人會像農民一樣，對無人機科技這麼興奮。

Ms. Hediger, estimated that the device would save her tens of thousands of dollars in the coming years because she would be able to pinpoint which parts of her fields needed fertilizer, water, weed killer or seed.
海德格估計，無人機能在未來幾年內為她省下數萬美元，因為她能精準看到麥田哪些部分需要肥料、水分、除草劑或種子。

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, an industry group, said that it expected agriculture to make up 80 percent of the market for unmanned aircraft after commercial flight is allowed.
無人機產業組織「國際無人載具系統協會」預期，政府開放無人機商用飛行後，農業在無人機市場將占到八成。

“It’s invaluable,” said Corey Jacobs, a corn farmer who lives in rural Indiana. Mr. Jacobs, 28, used to spot weeds or weather damage by walking for kilometers through his cornstalks. Now, he simply launches a drone.
住在印第安納州鄉下的28歲玉米農雅各布斯說：「無人機太好用了。」他以前巡視玉米田時都得徒步好幾公里，查看有無雜草或天候造成的損失，現在他只須操控無人機便可。

He built his first unmanned aircraft in 2013 and quickly saw a business opportunity. Today, he is the founder and sole employee of Extreme UAS, which sells drones to fellow farmers. When he is not on a tractor, he is on Twitter, scouting for new clients.
2013年雅各布斯組裝出他的第一架無人機，而且很快就看到了商機。如今，他是「超級無人飛機系統公司」的創辦人兼唯一員工，把無人機賣給跟他一樣的農民。當他不駕駛拖拉機時，就上推特尋找新客戶。

Agribotix, in Boulder, Colorado, has sold about 100 drones to farmers and crop consultants – people who travel from farm to farm, deploying drones for growers.
科羅拉多州圓石市的Agribotix公司已經賣了一百架左右的無人機給農民和農作物顧問。農作物顧問在農場間穿梭，幫農民找來無人機。

But concerns about crowded skies remain.
不過，對於天空過度擁擠的疑慮仍然存在。

Andrew D. Moore is the executive director of the National Agricultural Aviation Association, which represents pilots who fly over farms, laying seed and other products, said he is worried about pilots crashing into drones.
「美國農業航空協會」是衛護農場飛行員權益的組織，這種飛行員駕機飛過農場上空，播種或灑下其他作物。協會執行長安德魯．摩爾說，他擔心飛行員飛行時撞上無人機。

“It could be lethal,” he said.
他說：「那可能會致命」。

原文參照：
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/drone-flying-farmers-once-breaking-the-law-may-soon-gain-clearance.html

2015-06-09聯合報/G9版/UNITED DAILY NEWS 李京倫譯 原文參見紐時週報七版左