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Crop health and stress detection
Crop Health and Stress Detection: Unlock SFI Funding with Precision

Access the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) PRF1 Grant


The Crop Health and Stress Detection initiative is a cornerstone of the SFI programme, empowering farmers to adopt smarter nutrient management practices through precision farming. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, you can optimise your operations, boost crop yields, and contribute to a healthier environment—all while unlocking financial support.

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Grant Details at a Glance:

  • Duration: 3 years

  • Payment: £27 per hectare annually

  • Purpose: Use precision farming tools to apply key nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium—at variable rates, ensuring crops receive exactly what they need, when they need it. This approach minimises over-application and supports sustainable farming practices.

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Who’s Eligible?:

This grant is available to farmers managing arable or grassland areas below the moorland line where systemic herbicides are used for weed control. If this describes your farm, you could benefit from both funding and enhanced crop management outcomes.

Step 1: Pre-Flight Planning (max 400 ha/day)

  • We begin by assessing your location and defining the survey area using satellite imagery and field boundaries.

  • Flight paths are optimised for efficient coverage and data accuracy depending on the survey type

Crop Health and Stress Detection sample flight plan
Step 2: Drone Survey Execution

  • Flight Speed: ~12 mph

  • Flight Height: ~ 90 meters

  • Coverage: ~0.83 hectares per minute

  • Details: Multispectral imaging to assess crop health using indices like NDVI. Moderate speed and altitude ensure clear data collection without sacrificing coverage

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Step 3: Data Upload & Processing

The larger the Ha area, the longer the upload and data processing takes.  Whilst the process is largely automated it does require our judgment at certain key stages.  These are typical times for upload and processing a 100 Ha: -

  • (3-5 hours) Upload imagery and generate an Orthomosaic Map and relevant Vegetation Indices (NDVI, NDRE).

  • (1-2 hours) Adjust index parameters to highlight areas of crop stress.

  • (1 hour) Use the Zone Mapping tool for classifying vegetation health, and export maps for targeted treatments.


Step 4: Report Generation

Output/Report

  • Orthomosaic Map: High-resolution imagery of the entire field.

  • Vegetation Index Maps (e.g., NDVI, NDRE): Visual representations showing areas of crop stress or health.

  • Zone Maps: Classified zones based on vegetation indices for targeted treatments.

  • Prescriptions: Variable rate application files to guide equipment for precise input use.

File Type Options

  • Orthomosaic: GeoTIFF (.tif), PDF, JPG

  • Vegetation Indices & Zone Maps: GeoTIFF (.tif), SHP, PDF, PNG

  • Prescriptions: SHP, ISOXML, CSV

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