Aerial imagery has been a cornerstone of agricultural decision-making for more than a century, giving farmers a bird's-eye view of land use, field boundaries, soil conditions, and crop health. While early aerial imaging required helicopters, film cameras, and technical expertise, farmers can now capture those same insights with compact drones, digital sensors, and affordable software. At Virginia State University (VSU), the Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP )'s Extension professional, Mr. Tim Sexton, is a grant specialist, the state Coordinator for Herd and Forage Improvement, and a licensed drone pilot. He draws on decades of experience in soil science and aerial imagery to teach Virginia farmers how to use drones for precision agriculture, helping them save time, reduce costs, and make better in-season management decisions.

Educational sessions will cover topics relevant to today’s small farmers and ranchers, including marketing, production, finance, food safety, and long-term planning. Attendees can also learn about current research from scientists at VSU’s Agricultural Research Station. “Some of the highlights you can expect will be parasite control, funding sources, specialty mushrooms, and legacy planning,” says SFOP Director William Crutchfield. “We’re going to talk about diversified production from our 43560 project here at VSU’s Randolph Farm, and looking at agriculture finance and asset protection.” The conference will also honor the winners of this year’s Farmer of the Year, Small Farm Agent of the Year, and STAR of the Year awards.