Counties seek USDA study to resolve drone questions

CELINA - Three counties inundated with reports of drones operating over farmlands are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch a study to identify and examine potential threats posed by the unmanned aerial systems to livestock facilities in west central Ohio and east central Indiana.

The Mercer County Commissioners on Thursday signed their names to a letter to Ohio rural development director Charles Tassell requesting USDA assistance in studying drone activities in the airspace over and around agricultural facilities.

Their counterparts in Darke County and Jay County in Indiana are also signatories to the letter that addresses concerns raised about the increasing presence of drones.

"While drones have legitimate applications in agriculture, unauthorized or unregulated flights present potential threats to animal health, farm biosecurity, producer privacy, and facility security," the letter states.

The coalition of commissioners requests the USDA's assistance in initiating a research study focused on the risks and impacts of drone activity over livestock operations in the three adjacent counties.

"This study would aim to identify drones operating over and around agricultural facilities," the letter reads. "Specifically, it would study drones that are operating on non-standard frequencies and during non-traditional times."

During the last nine months, the largest reports of drones flying over livestock facilities came at a time when the cluster of counties was combating the uncontrolled spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, commissioners note in the letter.

"This has caused many agricultural producers to have concerns with the bio security risk that drones may cause," commissioners wrote.

As drone technology becomes more widespread, proactive research is necessary to safeguard America's livestock industry, they insist.

"Our region is home to significant livestock production and these facilities are critical not only to the region's economy but also the stability of the U.S. food supply," the letter states. "A USDA-led study would provide valuable insight for producers, policymakers, regulators across the Country."

Local authorities are still at a loss to explain why drones purportedly as large as a small car were flying in the night sky over Mercer County in January, or who was operating them, but continue to take the matter seriously.

Reports of drones began flowing into the Mercer County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 24 before reaching a zenith a few days later and then slowing to a trickle. The office had dispatched deputies to the locations of the sightings, compiled reports and forwarded them on to the Federal Aviation Administration.

There were also numerous reports of drone sightings reported throughout Darke County around the same time, per a news release from Sheriff Mark Whittaker.

Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman said his office is still fielding reports.

"We have (gotten reports), just not to the degree we had in January, February," Timmerman told The Daily Standard. "And it's been very sporadic when we get the calls now. … It's probably about six weeks since the last one I got a call on."

Timmerman said he has yet to be given answers about the origins or purposes of the drones.

"Some of our state and federal people, it's still on the forefront of their mind," he said. "This letter that Commissioner (Dave) Buschur is talking about is one of the big positive things that I've seen in several months. I hate to say it, but the process is slow, slower than we would like it to be, but at least we have some movement on it now."

Buschur said he discussed the study proposal with Tassell some time after the public policy expert assumed the role of state director in June.

"It's whether or not he can find the funding to fund a set project," Buschur said. "We want answers for the producers of Mercer County agriculture - and Darke and Jay counties. It's that region that's kind of seen the most activity of drones, and I think it has spurred a lot of interest of 'What are they?'"

If approved, the study would likely be funded and overseen by USDA and involve the use of up to five self-contained radio frequency detectors spread out over the three counties, Buschur said.

The detectors, Buschur said, can identify the make and model of the drone, as well as pinpoint its location and the location of the pilot.

"They put out information," he said. "So if you're looking for it and you can grab it, you can see where the pilot's at, where the drone's at, where the flight pattern was."

A pair of state lawmakers last month penned a letter urging President Donald Trump to consider designating Ohio as one of the first states to receive federal funding for drone protection via his Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty executive order.

State Reps. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, and Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, submitted the letter that they said is signed by more than half of the Ohio House.

Moreover, the letter highlights Ohio's longstanding leadership in aerospace innovation and defense manufacturing, along with its robust network of military installations and defense industry partners, as well as its status as a powerhouse in agriculture and food production, according to a joint news release.

"There has been a consistent alarm heard from law enforcement leaders that they do not have the equipment needed to address the risks presented by drones which will likely be the method of terrorist attacks in the future," Newman said in a statement. "We must get prepared to address those risks now."