Pricing Agriculture Spraying

[Fred Paris]

So in the cranberry market the farmers spread pesticides through the sprinkler systems and granular fertilizers by helicopter. The helicopters are $1,200 an hour plus 60cents a pound. We are planning a $500 survey and multispectral mapping flight and then .60 pound. - Lets see how that works.

 

[sawman]

So in the cranberry market the farmers spread pesticides through the sprinkler systems and granular fertilizers by helicopter. The helicopters are $1,200 an hour plus 60cents a pound. We are planning a $500 survey and multispectral mapping flight and then .60 pound. - Lets see how that works.

What sort of spreader system do you use for dry work?

 

[Fred Paris]

flying a T50 with 110lb hopper

 

[jaja6009]

How hard was it to get and operate under Part 137? Any tips on making the process easier?

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

good luck hope it works out

 

[Fred Paris]

What sort of spreader system do you use for dry work?

Dry work includes fertilizers and seeds. We fly an AGRAS T50 changing out the tank for a dry hopper.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

What do you feel are the advantages to growers using your service? I thinks drones doing this type of work is great.

 

[Fred Paris]

There are several advantages to using drones for cranberries. First the alternatives include helicopters, ground-rigs, and backpack spraying. Helicopters are environmentally nasty for small farms, ground rigs crush the crops and backpacks are unhealthy and hard work. When the copter leaves the growers are blowing the fertilizer from their cars and driveways. Order 100 pounde per acre and perhaps get 80 pounds on the crop. Next is precision. drones are flying at 10' and getting into the nooks and crannies of odd shaped cranberry bogs. Better coverage with less product. Drones can apply fertilizer at night - in the dark. Yes we need lights on the drone but the drone isn't looking its just flying its programmed route. Then there ar the no-fly and no-spray sections of a farm. Rather than leave it to the pilot of a plane or copter, the obsticals and no fly zones are programmed - so lets do it at night when the wind is dead. I going to try this week.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

There are several advantages to using drones for cranberries. First the alternatives include helicopters, ground-rigs, and backpack spraying. Helicopters are environmentally nasty for small farms, ground rigs crush the crops and backpacks are unhealthy and hard work. When the copter leaves the growers are blowing the fertilizer from their cars and driveways. Order 100 pounde per acre and perhaps get 80 pounds on the crop. Next is precision. drones are flying at 10' and getting into the nooks and crannies of odd shaped cranberry bogs. Better coverage with less product. Drones can apply fertilizer at night - in the dark. Yes we need lights on the drone but the drone isn't looking its just flying its programmed route. Then there ar the no-fly and no-spray sections of a farm. Rather than leave it to the pilot of a plane or copter, the obsticals and no fly zones are programmed - so lets do it at night when the wind is dead. I going to try this week.

That is very cool. I thought those would be some of the advantages of drones. I hope your very successful.