Drones Now Permitted to Spray over Farms

Traditional crop dusters may be getting a lighter and more efficient facelift. The Federal Aviation Administration has permitted drones to carry tanks of fertilizers and pesticides to spray over crops in the United States.

 

Doug Thiel owns Thiel AirCare, Inc., a crop dusting company in Chowchilla. He commented on Wednesday, "I’m always in favor of technology and enhancement of the business."

 

Thiel has been in the business for nearly 35 years and utilizes medium-sized helicopters and planes in spraying crops.

 

"We are just getting into the helicopter business. We have one 206. My son flies it. There’s a lot of advantages with helicopters. You can stay more confined in fields and areas, especially in urban sprawl that we’re experiencing in San Joaquin Valley," said Thiel.

 

Thiel AirCare carries payloads up to 6,500 pounds, and is able to spray hundreds of acres of land. He said a drone just doesn’t measure up.

 

He said, "We can do a lot more acres and be a lot more timely with an airplane. And our applications are all exact."

The FAA permitted the Yamaha RMAX to be used in the ag industry. The future of what they can do, some say, is just beginning. Les Wright, the Fresno County Agriculture Commissioner said there are other ways drones may be used by farmers and crop dusters.

 

"With infrared type photographing and then on the ground truthing, you can detect a weak point in a certain tree and then go out and investigate what’s going on on that tree," said Wright.

 

Wright said drones may also be used to spray smaller plots of land, and hard-to-reach areas where it’s dangerous to fly a plane or helicopter.

 

Yamaha said in Japan, it’s RMAX helicopter is used primarily for seeding and spraying rice. They say the RMAX can spray two acres in six minutes.