FAA Approves Testing of UAV Sprayer.

May 08, 2015

By Farms.com Editors

Unmanned aerial systems are becoming more sophisticated and now farmers may be using remote controlled precision sprayers in the near future. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved an unmanned helicopter for test use in agriculture this month. The Yamaha RMAX has been approved in Japan for more than 20 years as a precision pesticide and fertilizer sprayer. See the video below of the Yamaha RMAX in action spraying a field in Japan.

This is the FAA’s first exemption approval to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for spraying purposes in agriculture. Specialty crops, especially vineyards, are ideal for the helicopter where spraying from the ground, piloted aircrafts or on difficult terrain is ineffective. The UAV should allow farmers to target specific areas of their crops and cut down on application use. Other unmanned sprayers will need individual approval from the FAA.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.