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How Does Spraying Pesticides with a UAS Work?

Extension Education

Alan Leininger
Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
Ohio State University
Napoleon

Abstract

The application of pesticides with a UAS has become a popular practice over the past few years within crop production. The ability to carry larger volumes of liquid onboard, reduced costs, and simple operation has attributed to the increased popularity. Additionally, the increased number of fungicide applications in corn due to the tar spot disease has shown that the demand for aerial applications of all types has increased. UAS pesticide application technology is providing another opportunity to meet the increased demand. With the increase interest in UAS spraying there is a need for an educational program to help farmers and UAS operators learn how to implement this technology. The goal of the program is to connect farmers, UAS operators and other stakeholders to information that will address challenges such as F.A.A. rules, Ohio Department of Agriculture requirements, and the general lack of knowledge of this technology. Field demonstrations have been conducted to give farmers and operators a hands-on view of the UAS sprayer and to see the flight planning tools to control the UAS sprayer. Additionally, on-farm research on UAS sprayers is conducted to begin to answer questions farmers & UAS sprayer operators have in terms of management of the spray operation, quality of the application, and the economics of UAS spraying. Outcomes of this program include over 500 farmers & operators at multiple teaching events across Ohio, 400 attendees at fields days to see the operation of a UAS sprayer in person, and five on farm demonstrations located across western Ohio. In addition, five different on-farm research projects have been published in the eFields publication through The Ohio State University Digital Ag Program.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Alan Leininger, John Fulton, Jason Hartschuh, Elizabeth Hawkins, Kyle Verhoff, Stephanie Karhoff
  1. Leininger, A. Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43545
  2. Fulton, J. Professor Research, Extension and Teaching, Food Agriculture & Biological Engineering, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43210
  3. Hartschuh, J. Field Specialist Dairy & Precision Livestock, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43420
  4. Hawkins, E. Field Specialist Agronomic Systems, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45177
  5. Verhoff, K. Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43512
  6. Karhoff, S. Field Specialist Agronomic Systems, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45875