Using Drones for Weed Management

This post originally appeared on the GROW website.

In this GROW Farmer Forum, panelists led a discussion of the current state of drone scouting, mapping and herbicide applications for weed management, as well as the future of the technology. Dr. Steve Li, of Auburn University, served as the moderator, alongside panelist Rick Jordan, of CNY Drone Services.

00:00:00 – Start

00:00:12 – Introduction to GROW

00:02:30 – Panelist Introduction

00:08:06 – Regulations and Legal Requirements for Drone Applications

00:13:32 – Drone Weed Mapping Sensors, Software and Flight Requirements

00:17:32 – Drone Target Spraying Capabilities and Limitations

00:25:08 – Potential Government Restrictions on non-U.S. Drone Manufacturing

00:37:34 – The Future of Drone Swarming in Agriculture

00:45:17 – Average Market Prices for Drone Weed Mapping

00:53:27 – Most and Least Suitable Crop Applications for Drones

00:55:10 – Tank Mix Considerations for Drone Applications

00:58:53 – How to Navigate Irregular Fields with Drones

01:02:27 – Potential Chemical Formulation Issues to Avoid

01:06:20 – Nozzle Considerations for Drone Applications

01:12:07 – Large Spray Tank Drones

01:14:14 – Herbicide Label Spray Restrictions for Drone Applications

Panelists: Dr. Steve Li, of Auburn University, Rick Jordan, of CNY Drone Services.

Texts: Emily Unglesbee, GROW Video edits: Claudio Rubione,

GROW www.growiwm.org

About the Author: Emily Unglesbee

Emily Unglesbee is the Director of Outreach and Extension for GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds). She grew up in south-central Pennsylvania and earned a degree in Classics from the University of Notre Dame in 2009. After two years working on farms and ranches in the U.S. and U.K., she earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 2013. She spent 10 years as a reporter for DTN/The Progressive Farmer, before joining GROW (Get Rid of Weeds) in 2022 to lead its communications and outreach team. GROW is a publicaly led network of scientists working to help farmers and the agricultural industry test and adopt non-chemical alternatives to weed control, to help slow and overcome the industry-wide problem of herbicide-resistant weeds.