**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF USING OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGING A PASTURED POULTRY OPERATION. THE GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW INCORPORATING DRONE TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS BIRD PERFORMANCE, PREDATION RATE, AND FARM ECONOMICS OF A SMALL FLOCK OPERATION. AN EGG-TYPE BREED IN A SMALL FLOCK PASTURED POULTRY OPERATION WILL BE EVALUATED AT THE PRODUCTION PHASE FOR PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS UNDER TWO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM- NO DRONE USE VERSUS DRONE USE. SIX FARMS, TWO EACH FROM EASTERN, CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGION OF TENNESSEEWILL PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY ALONG WITH THE RESEARCH FARM AT THE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY. LIMITED RESOURCE AND MINORITY FARMERS WILL BE PRIORITIZED AS PARTICIPANT FARMERS IN THE STUDY.THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL EVALUATE THE USE OF DRONE TECHNOLOGY IN A SMALL FLOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND PASTURE ROTATION FOR AN EGG-TYPE BREED BY MEASURING PERCENT FORAGE COVERAGE. EGG-TYPE BREEDS ARE TYPICALLY ROTATED EVERY 7-10 DAYS FROM ONE FORAGING AREA TO ANOTHER IN THE AVAILABLE PASTURE. THE OPTIMAL FORAGING AREA IN THE PASTURE WILL BE IDENTIFIED WITH THE AID OF DRONE IMAGES AS THE NEXT FORAGING PATCH FOR HENS TO ROTATE. FARMERS OF THE PARTICIPANT FARMS WILL BE TRAINED ON DRONE USAGE TO INCORPORATE IT IN ROUTINE FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICE. IMPROVEMENT IN FEED EFFICIENCY AND EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS WILL BE ACCOUNTED. THE DRONE WILL ALSO MONITOR THE OVERALL FLOCK STATUS SUCH AS FLOCK BEHAVIOR, MOBILITY AND MORTALITY OF HENS, FEEDERS, WATERERS, AND FENCING OF PARTICIPANT FARMS. THE LABOR EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS FARM ECONOMICS IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION INPUTS AND PERFORMANCE OUTPUTS WILL DETERMINED FOR 'DRONE USE' VERSUS 'NO DRONE USE' MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. THE RESEARCH RESULTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO EXTENSION AGENTS, AND BACKYARD AND SMALL FLOCK PRODUCERS ACROSS TENNESSEE BY CONDUCTING TRAINING WORKSHOPS.