The skies above America’s farms are buzzing with more than just bees these days. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are taking to the fields, spraying crops with precision and efficiency. But as these high-tech helpers become more common, so do the questions surrounding their use, particularly when it comes to applying crop protection chemicals. Currently, U.S. growers and applicators are operating under a grace period of oversight, but that’s set to change.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made it clear that the current laissez-faire approach won’t last forever. They’ll want to assess the risks from these drone applications, just as they do with traditional ground rigs or piloted aircraft. This has major crop protection chemical companies scrambling to get ahead of the curve. Nine of them, including industry giants like Syngenta, Bayer, and Corteva, have pooled their resources to fund research and generate data through the Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Applications System Task Force (UAPASTF).
The task force is tackling some big questions. How much drift occurs when chemicals are applied by drone? What’s the level of human operator exposure? And how can they generate data that will satisfy regulators not just in the U.S., but around the world? They’re conducting studies in the U.S., Spain, Hungary, and Australia, with the goal of creating a mechanistic model that can simplify the registration process for new products.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The drone they’ve been using for these studies, the DJI T-30, is equipped with standard hydraulic nozzles. While popular, it’s not the most common type of drone in aerial application use today. Most of those are equipped with rotary atomizers. So, the question remains: will the data generated from the T-30 studies hold up when applied to drones with rotary atomizers? The task force is aware of this potential caveat and is prepared to do further research if needed.
The implications of this work are significant. If successful, the task force’s efforts could streamline the registration process for new products, making it easier for growers to access the latest in crop protection technology. It could also pave the way for more widespread adoption of drone technology in agriculture, leading to more precise, efficient, and sustainable farming practices. But it’s not just about the technology. It’s about the data, the regulations, and the collaboration between industry, academia, and government. It’s about finding a way to feed the world while protecting the environment, and it’s happening right above our heads.
