AGRICULTURAL merchants McCreath Simpson and Prentice are getting behind agri-tech firm Drone AG, with a £30,000 investment in the development of its new software, Skippy Scout.

The company has just completed its first development and testing phase of the product, which is designed to increase productivity in field walking and crop inspections with the use of drone technology.

Partnering in the trials from the outset, MSP agronomists have seen increased efficiency from using Skippy Scout by accurately targeting where any agrochemical intervention is needed on a field.

Before embarking on the next round of development, Drone AG has launched a crowdfunding campaign with the hope of raising a total of £250,000 from private investors. As advocates of agri-tech advancements, MSP’s investment forms part of this required figure.

The advantages of Skippy Scout have encouraged MSP to get behind the product and invest in its development, as commercial director, Andy Hindhaugh, explained: “At MSP, we pride ourselves on always being on the lookout for innovative solutions that support our farming customers and allow us to provide more compelling, productive and cost-effective services.

“Previous technical solutions we have viewed have been cumbersome and we were not convinced that they provided a practical solution to the challenges farmers and agronomists face in accurately inspecting crops. Whereas, Skippy Scout demonstrated an affordable drone system that is simple to use and delivers real benefits for farmers, agronomists and potentially the whole supply chain.”