Faster drones a "game changer" for pesticide application

Описание: Faster drones like the new DJI T100 don’t just add speed and capacity — they change the physics of how aerial spray patterns behave, potentially unlocking more uniform coverage at speeds and scales that could make drone pesticide application far more efficient and cost effective.

That’s Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness application specialist Jason Deveau’s takeaway from early trials with the latest drone technology to hit the market in 2025.

In this report, Deveau and RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin examine how the industry has moved rapidly from small 10-litre machines to much larger systems. The latest DJI T100 model — capable of carrying 100 litres and flying at around 72 km/h — represents a significant leap forward in both speed and payload. That combination, says Deveau, has shifted expectations about what drones could realistically do in commercial spray applications.

Deveau explains that in early research, slower flight speeds created unpredictable downwash effects that made swath patterns difficult to control. Once drones like the T100 reached higher speeds, however, something changed: swath width became more consistent. That observation — still under evaluation — suggests high-speed applications may deliver spray more uniformly, almost laying it down “like a sheet,” rather than allowing chaotic airflow to distort coverage, says Deveau.

Deveau plans to run additional trials in 2026, and if early findings hold up, the implications could be significant. He shared preliminary calculations suggesting — hypothetically — that larger, faster drones could approach application rates of about 40 acres per hour for fungicides and potentially more than 100 acres per hour for broadacre herbicide applications. That level of productivity begins to align more closely with ground rig coverage.

Still, Deveau cautions there is considerable work ahead. Questions remain around optimal settings, effective coverage, regulatory acceptance, and safe use. Ultimately, he says, well-trained operators with strong pesticide application knowledge will be best positioned to benefit as the technology continues to evolve.

Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/
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