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In modern agriculture, precision is everything. The ability to make informed decisions at the field level can lead to significant savings in time, resources, and effort. High-resolution imagery plays a crucial role in achieving this precision, especially for challenging tasks like weed detection. The Sentera 65R sensor has proven itself as a game-changer in this space, as demonstrated by researchers at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in their study of sugar beet fields. 

The Challenge: Narrow Row Spacing and Resistant Weeds
Glyphosate-resistant weeds like waterhemp and ragweed are becoming increasingly problematic for farmers. In crops like sugar beets, where rows are spaced just 22 inches apart—much narrower than the standard 30-inch row spacing—accurately distinguishing weeds from crops can be especially difficult. NDSU researchers needed a solution that could capture the fine details necessary to map weeds and create prescriptive tillage plans. 

The Solution: Sentera 65R’s High-Resolution Imagery
Using the Sentera 65R sensor mounted on a UAV, the research team was able to capture high-resolution imagery with a ground sample distance (GSD) of just 7mm. This level of detail was critical for identifying the subtle differences between weeds and sugar beet plants. By processing the imagery through tools like PIX4Dfields and applying indices like the Excess Green Index (ExGr), the team successfully differentiated crops from weeds and created actionable maps. 

The Results: Savings in Time, Fuel, and Effort
One of the most striking outcomes of the study was the reduction in tillage. With the weed maps generated from the 65R’s imagery, farmers only needed to till about 10% of the field. This targeted approach saved fuel, minimized soil disruption, and preserved valuable soil moisture. The high-resolution imagery made it possible to achieve these results without the need for costly sensors like LiDAR. 

Conclusion
The NDSU study highlights why high-resolution imagery is more than a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity for precision agriculture. Whether you’re tackling resistant weeds or optimizing resource use, tools like the Sentera 65R sensor provide the clarity and accuracy needed to make data-driven decisions. 

Want to learn more? Click the button below to download the full NDSU case study.