Skysense

Skysense is a drone service company for specialty crop growers. It protects crops from birds and wildlife with automated drone patrols. The patrols run during the periods when bird pressure is highest. The company is based in Kennewick, Washington, United States.

The site says bird damage often peaks in the days before a crop is harvested. It says 60 to 70 percent of a crop can be lost to birds in those days. It also reports up to 50 percent annual crop loss for some blueberry, cherry and grape growers. The site cites USDA, Oregon State University Extension and Washington State University research as sources.

The service starts with a field survey. The company maps fields, crop blocks, risk zones and patrol routes. Drones then fly during bird threat windows. Trained pilots supervise each mission remotely and change the flight plan when conditions change. The site says the deterrence is non-lethal and does not harm wildlife.

The site names blueberries, cherries, wine grapes and lettuce as target crops. It says the service covers Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, with more growing regions planned. The site also mentions AI crop insights for some crops, such as stand counts and weed maps.

The leadership team includes Justin Clune as chief executive officer, Philippe Remy as chief AI officer, Philip Bergqvist as chief technology officer and Patrick Williams as chief agronomic officer. The site says Patrick Williams spent more than 17 years as an agronomist with the J.R. Simplot Company.

The site includes an ROI calculator and a rough estimate tool. A grower enters acreage and crop type to see an estimated seasonal loss. The site also lists a referral program, a phone number for sales outside the Pacific Northwest and an office address in Kennewick.