"Are drones as effective in spraying as ground sprayers?”
Beck’s 2024 PFR results are out and this article from Successful Farming addresses the question:
"Are drones as effective in spraying as ground sprayers?"
In a nutshell
The article explores the effectiveness of drone spraying compared to traditional ground spraying for crop protection. While initial trials showed drones may not put out as much water, they surprisingly yielded better results in some cases.
Key findings include:
pH Impact: Drone spraying uses less water, resulting in a lower pH level in the spray solution. This lower pH increases the fungicide's half-life, allowing plants more time to absorb it.
Unexpected Advantage: The lower water volume used in drone spraying leads to a more acidic spray solution. This increased acidity prolongs the fungicide's effectiveness, allowing the plants more time to absorb it. For example, the article notes that a pH of 7.0 in ground sprayers gives fungicide a half-life of about three hours, whereas drone spraying with lower water volume can extend this to six or seven hours.
Beyond Yield: The article also emphasizes the importance of factors beyond just yield. Proper drone operation, including calibration, operator training, and efficient battery management, is crucial for success.
This article covers just one small element in Beck’s comprehensive 2024 PFR book. You can download their full PFR research data booklet for free by visiting this link. It includes more promising data on the performance of agriculture spray drones including this ROI chart showing the drone performance versus a ground rig in year two in Beck’s unbiased research studies:
Venture Ag Drone's Take
When seeking reliable data on emerging technologies like drone application in agriculture, we turn to trusted sources like Beck's. We appreciate their commitment to unbiased research and transparent results, regardless of the outcome. In this article from Successful Farming, we were particularly interested in their findings on pH and carrier rate.
As experienced ground-rig applicators, we understand the trade-off. To ensure adequate coverage as the crop grows, we often need to increase the gallons per acre applied, which can lower the pH of the spray solution and reduce the fungicide's half life. Therefore, we were encouraged to see that drone applications, typically using around 2 gallons per acre for fungicide, demonstrated strong results in their second year of trials. In fact, not only did drone spraying prove effective, but in some cases, it soared above traditional ground applications.
Is your Farm ready?
Venture Ag Drones is bringing custom aerial application to Central Wisconsin so your farm can see and measure the drone advantage for yourself. We’re here to become your trusted partner in this new age of agriculture technology. Connect with us today using our contact page.
Who is Successful Farming?
Successful Farming is a prominent agricultural magazine that has been serving farmers and ranchers for over a century. It provides a wealth of information on various aspects of agriculture, including crop production, livestock management, farm equipment, agribusiness, and rural living. With a strong focus on practical advice, market analysis, and expert insights, Successful Farming caters to a diverse audience, from small family farms to large-scale agricultural operations.
Who is Beck’s?
Beck's Hybrids Practical Farm Research (PFR) is a long-standing program dedicated to providing farmers with unbiased, practical agronomic research. This research helps farmers make informed decisions about their crops and farming practices. The program focuses on testing new products and techniques, and the results are shared publicly, regardless of outcome. By doing so, PFR aims to provide farmers with the most reliable information to improve their operations.