admin@agras.bg, Author at DJI Agriculture

New bill will allow drone spraying in agriculture

admin@agras.bg — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:09:20 +0000

Soon in Bulgaria it will be possible to use drones for spraying pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. This provides for a bill to amend the Plant Protection Act. Bulgaria is at the forefront of countries where such a law will be adopted.

The bill aims to align Bulgarian legislation with European regulations that regulate the requirements for placing on the market and production of plant protection products and fertilizing products. Also, the project addresses the issue of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for agricultural activities related to plant protection and the use of plant protection products through these new technologies.

Part of the conditions for permitted drone spraying will be:

Certificate of conformity issued;
Shade temperature lower than or equal to 25° C;
Wind speed from 1 to 5 m/s;
Air humidity higher than 50 percent, etc.

The height from which plant protection products are spread is many times smaller in the case of the drone, than in the case of aerial spraying, which is carried out by plane or helicopter. This, in turn, significantly reduces the drift of the drone jet, respectively reduces both the amount of plant protection products needed to achieve an optimal result, and also the possibility of pesticides falling outside the areas designated for treatment, i.e. in bordering territories, water basins, forests, etc.

Using drones to spray pesticides and fertilizers will have a number of benefits for farmers and the environment. Drones will allow for more precise and efficient application of preparations, which will lead to a reduction in costs, an increase in yields and preservation of soil fertility. Drones will also help reduce the effects of pesticide use on human and animal health, as well as reduce water and air pollution.

The draft law to amend and supplement the Plant Protection Act is open for public discussion until March 15, 2024. All interested parties can express their opinion and give their suggestions on the draft law.

Motives

The proposed regulatory changes are aimed at solving a major problem related to the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for activities in agriculture related to plant protection and the use of plant protection preparations through the use of these new technologies.

The Plant Protection Act (PPA) regulates two types of spraying – aerial and ground. Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) cannot be assigned to either of these two types, which creates a gap in the existing legal framework regarding the use of plant protection products. Through these new technologies, a reduction of the harmful consequences of the use of pesticides is ensured and an opportunity to develop the so-called precision agriculture is provided, the ultimate goal of which is the use of the most sparing methods and technologies, allowing the achievement of plant protection goals and at the same time reducing the quantities of pesticides used, respectively their harmful effects.

The goals that the EU sets within the framework of the Green Deal are related to promoting precision agriculture and reducing the amount of plant protection products used. The use of drones to spray pesticides ensures that these goals are achieved. This is due to the extremely precise technology that is used for the purpose. A study carried out in late 2021 and funded by the European Commission, related to the evaluation of Directive 2009/128/EC and its possible revision, concluded that no derogation would be necessary for drone spraying, as well as any other kind spraying if the spraying tool is no more than 2 meters from the plant being treated. Unlike aerial spraying, for which European legislation has introduced a ban and left it to Member States to define the procedures for allowing exceptions to this ban, drone spraying has a number of advantages, namely:

The height from which plant protection products are sprayed is many times smaller with a drone than with aerial spraying, which is carried out by airplane or helicopter. This, in turn, significantly reduces the drift of the drone jet, respectively reduces both the amount of plant protection products needed to achieve an optimal result, and also the possibility of pesticides falling outside the areas designated for treatment, i.e. in bordering territories, water basins, forests, etc.
The technical characteristics and capabilities of drones intended for use in agriculture allow the treatment of only part of the plants (e.g. infected outbreaks), which helps to limit the areas on which pesticides are used and the rapid limitation of plant infections.
Compared to ground spraying, which is carried out up to about 1.5 meters above the plants, and when treating orchards sometimes up to 7 meters high, drone spraying allows optimal treatment of the plants from a distance of 2 meters above the treated plants, practically leveling them with spraying by ground agricultural equipment, but at the same time the pressure that the drone provides allows for a much more efficient spraying of all parts of the plant, including the lowest, and using smaller amounts of plant protection products, making the treatment with a drone many times more efficient and at the same time more sparing not only than aerial spraying, but also the ground one.
The advantages of using a drone to process plants and plant protection products are even more tangible when spraying fruit trees. In these crops, the ground spraying directs the jet upwards and in order to maximally treat all parts of the crown of the tree, it is necessary to create a much stronger jet, respectively the use of a larger amount of pesticides, which is very effectively avoided when using a drone. This is because of the precise technology used in the drones, such as the ability to recognize the crowns, allowing the jet to be precisely directed, hovering directly over the plants / trees, creating pressure that directs the jet where it is needed, namely into the crowns of the trees, limiting the unnecessary spreading of pesticides affecting neighboring territories.
Other advantages of spraying with a drone derive from the technical capabilities of the implemented technological solutions, ensuring a constant flying height of the drone, respectively spraying of the preparations for plant protection, which is preserved even when maneuvering. It is this precision of the technology and the possibility of creating topographical maps of the terrain, which allows, even when maneuvering, the drone not to leave the set area, which guarantees that pesticides will not be dispersed even on a minimal part of the border territories. Moreover, this precision of the technology allows the drone to follow the relief of the terrain and to specify the height according to the earth’s surface, which is extremely useful in rugged and hard-to-reach terrains, and even in them the height remains constant, considering the height of the plantations.
Last but not least, the zero harmful emissions when working with a drone should be taken into account. The electricity supply provides the necessary power, while at the same time the drone does not emit harmful emissions, which any other ground technique undoubtedly emits, as well as aerial spraying technique.

The use of drones to treat plants with plant protection products allows the spraying to be carried out during the dark part of the day, which in turn reduces many times the potential possibility of harmful effects on bees, since they are active during the light part of the day. This is another step towards protecting bee colonies, which are increasingly declining and affected by aerial and ground spraying, which can be carried out almost entirely only during daylight hours, when the bees are also active, increasing the risk of their adverse affect and poisoning.

The benefits of using a drone for spraying, instead of aerial and ground spraying, are also related to the conservation of water resources. On the one hand, because drones need significantly smaller amounts of water to achieve an optimal result, which, in addition to saving water, is also extremely effective and useful for areas with limited water resources, but also reduces the amount of water used, respectively polluted with pesticide water. In this way, watering and / or run-off of pesticide-contaminated water is also limited, which as a result can enter both groundwater and open water bodies and thus cause more large-scale pollution and poisoning of environment.

Last but not least, the use of drones in the activities discussed practically excludes the possibility of harmful effects on the people doing the spraying. This is achieved because this type of system is controlled remotely, including according to preset parameters, which excludes the need for the presence of people in the immediate vicinity of the treated areas, and thus completely excludes the possibility of plant protection products affecting people, governing these processes. Achieving such a limit is practically impossible, both in aerial and ground spraying, due to the need for direct human control of the rental equipment, airplanes and helicopters, which requires physical presence in the machine, respectively physical contact of the person with the created at “cloud” spraying – a stream of fine drops containing plant protection products.

It should be borne in mind that according to Art. 124 of the Plant Protection Act. The Council of Ministers approves a National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, with a view to reducing the risks and impacts of their use on human health and the environment, and promotes the development and implementation of integrated pest management and alternative approaches or methods. In Art. 125, para. 3, item 2 of the EPA as an explicit measure to protect the aquatic environment (surface and underground water) and drinking water from the impact of pesticides, the priority of the most efficient application techniques such as the use of equipment for applying products for plant protection with limited spray application, in particular for crops such as hop plantations, orchards and vineyards. According to Art. 126, para. 1, item 1, letter “b” of the EPA in order to achieve sustainable use of pesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food promotes the development and introduction of integrated pest management and alternative approaches and techniques.

With Decision No. 571/13.08.2020 of the Council of Ministers, an updated National Action Plan for sustainable use of pesticides in the Republic of Bulgaria was adopted. It states that in order to reduce dependence on pesticide use, two main goals are set, which include “Reducing the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment, including protection of people’4 and “protection of residents and passers-by in areas where pesticides are used – by preventing and/or reducing the exposure of said persons to the impact of pesticides”4. In this regard, the National Plan recommends the use of ground equipment and the minimization of aerial spraying.

The proposed legislative changes achieve the fulfillment of these goals, as well as the provisions of the law governing the principle of development and introduction of innovative technologies in agriculture.

Preliminary action evaluation
Evaluation`s elements	Argumentation
Legislative initiative basis	In the current legislation, there is a gap regarding the use of plant protection products through new technologies, the ultimate goal of which is the use of the most sparing methods and technologies, allowing to achieve the goals of plant protection and at the same time reducing the amounts of pesticides used, respectively the harmful effects from them. The proposed regulatory changes create an order for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) as specialized machinery and equipment for the application of plant protection products, along with aerial and ground spraying. In this way, an opportunity is created to use these new and modern technologies, which have a number of advantages related to both their technical characteristics and capabilities, as well as their efficiency and low level of harmful impact. In a number of European countries, the potential of such smart technologies is already being used. As a result of such projects, the European Parliament, already at the beginning of 2019, paid attention to "the potential of using intelligent technologies and precision agriculture as a way to better spread plant protection preparations".
Interest groups	Farmers; Persons who use plant protection products; Professional users of plant protection products; The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.
Expenses-benefit analysis	No additional financial resources are required for the implementation of the proposed changes. The benefits are related to: implementation of new technology, increasing the economic, social and ecological efficiency when applying plant protection products; orientation of Bulgarian agriculture towards innovative and modern world trends; approval of environmental protection processes.
Administrative weight and structural changes	With the adoption of the draft law, no administrative changes such as closure, merger or creation of new administrative structures are envisaged. No administrative changes such as closure, merger or creation of new administrative structures are required.
Normative base impact	It is necessary to bring the bylaws into line with the law. No schanges to other laws are required.
Equal treatment by the state and balanced demographic development	The proposed measures would not have an impact on equal treatment of citizens and demographic development in the Republic of Bulgaria.

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Agras T30: Branch-Targeting Technology and Orchard Spraying

admin@agras.bg — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 06:55:24 +0000

Protecting orchards and fruit trees from pests and diseases is a crucial aspect of fruit farming. Effective plant protection requires precision application of pesticides in the right amount, at the right time, and in the right place. However, traditional methods of spraying can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, and can result in environmental damage. It can also be challenging to reach the tops of trees, and to provide your orchards with comprehensive coverage. The Agras T30, a crop spraying drone, offers an answer to the challenges of spraying fruit trees, ensuring rapid and precise coverage, minimal drift, and digital orchard management capabilities.

Just How Effective Are Drones at Spraying Orchards?

If you haven’t seen it done, you might have some reservations about using drones for fruit tree spraying.

“Can the thick canopy layer be penetrated?”

“Are the backs of leaves sprayed?”

“How good is the spraying effect?”

These are some common questions we hear when it comes to newcomers to spraying drones. This blog will focus on the unique benefits of the Agras T30 and why it’s the perfect solution for spraying orchards and fruit trees.

Orchard Spraying Field Test

In a field test, the Agras T30 demonstrated its highly effective results, ensuring high-quality and abundant yields for farmers.

During our experiment, we strategically placed water-sensitive paper at 48 points within a fruit tree to assess the coverage of both the Agras T30 and T20 drones. Traditional plant protection methods typically utilize “upward targeting” or “downward targeting”, with difficulty penetrating the thick canopy of fruit trees. The T30’s Branch-Targeting technology presents a novel solution to this challenge.

Branch-Targeting put simply, is a technique that targets the spray directly to the leaves, following the direction of the branches. This ensures that spray droplets reach wherever the leaves are, providing comprehensive coverage. This approach significantly enhances the amount of liquid reaching the underside of the leaves and the lower part of the canopy.

The T30 can also transform by adjusting the elevation angle of its No. 1 and No. 4 arms and replacing the general spray bar and sprinkler kit with a fruit tree-specific kit. This modification results in a branching wind field that directs droplets to follow the growth pattern of fruit tree branches, navigating gaps between branches and leaves. The angled approach faces fewer obstacles, allowing the spray to penetrate overlapping foliage and ensuring uniform application from top to bottom, and in all directions.

Official test data reveal that T30’s Branch-Targeting technology doubles the application rate on the underside of the bottom leaves of fruit trees.

TX-VK4 Sprinkler Nozzles Minimize Drift

Seasoned practitioners understand that droplet size significantly impacts the effectiveness of spraying, considering factors such as settlement and evaporation. If the droplets are too small, they evaporate quickly, whereas larger droplets struggle to penetrate the dense canopy of fruit trees.

To optimize this process, the T30 teams up with the hollow cone TX-VK4 sprinkler specifically designed for fruit tree spraying. Unlike fan sprinklers, these ceramic hollow cone nozzles generate a narrower particle size spectrum (110-130 microns). This production of a higher quantity of droplets that satisfy the same settling parameters makes them an ideal fit for operations involving fruit trees. This superior sprinkler, combined with the branching targeting technology, enables stronger penetration and more uniform distribution of fog droplets.

The branching wind field creates a droplet maze, ensuring the liquid solution is locked in and not wasted, leading to higher pesticide utilization. With this system, more accurate pesticide usage can be achieved, effectively conserving liquid, reducing costs, and protecting the environment.

Digital Orchard

DJI Agriculture has progressively mastered the challenges of fruit tree operations. This has led to a more comprehensive refinement of their digital agricultural solutions. When connected to the Smart Agriculture Cloud Platform, the T30 is capable of creating a three-dimensional cloud map of the orchard, and generating intelligent flight routes through its AI system. What this means is that even complex orchard plant protection spraying can be efficiently managed by one drone. This solution presents an effective, easy-to-use method that promises high-quality results. So, with the DJI agricultural plant protection drone in hand, the future looks bright for the modern farmer.

Conclusion

The Agras T30 is revolutionizing the agricultural industry with its advanced features and technologies that make it the best choice for efficient and effective plant protection. With the benefits of Branch-Targeting technology, minimal drift, and digital orchard management, the Agras T30 has proven to be a smart investment for farmers. The level of precision it offers considerably saves pesticide and labor costs while enhancing orchard management, resulting in high-quality and high-yield harvests while minimizing environmental impact. Adopting the Agras T30 could fundamentally change the face of fruit farming, explicitly helping farmers face the challenges of creating a sustainable, environmentally friendly future with efficient use of resources.

The post Agras T30: Branch-Targeting Technology and Orchard Spraying appeared first on DJI Agriculture.

New DJI Agriculture Drone Insight Report Reveals Greater Acceptance, Advanced Farming Techniques and Exploration of Best Practices for Farmers

admin@agras.bg — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 06:54:49 +0000

August 31st, 2023 – DJI Agriculture, a global leader in facilitating agricultural innovation through drone technology, today reveals the findings of the DJI Agriculture Drone Insight Report 2022/23.

“DJI Agriculture strives to enhance the efficiency of farmland management through digital agricultural solutions based on intelligent agriculture drones in an environmental and ecological way,” said Yuan Zhang, Head of Global Sales at DJI Agriculture. “This report shows that governments around the world and farmers, are adopting the use of agricultural drones and smart farming methods to increase food production in a more scientific, sustainable and eco-friendly way. This approach can reduce the amount of agricultural chemicals used while ensuring food security and environmental balance.”

The report is split into several sections examining DJI Agriculture’s work in 2022/23, Global Policy Trends, Agriculture Drone Tests, Innovations in Drone Application and Best Practices.

DJI Agriculture’s work in 2022/23

Since its inception just over ten years ago DJI Agriculture has grown over six continents, covering more than 100 countries and regions. At the end of 2022, the global number of DJI agriculture drones exceeded 200,000 units, and the cumulative operating area exceeded 200 million hectares, bringing the benefits of aerial technology to hundreds of millions of agricultural practitioners. Through flying training, a total of 150,000 agriculture drone pilots and 2,500 teachers have been trained to promote more young entrepreneurs to join the cause of science and technology agriculture and provide talent support for the development of intelligent agriculture.

Global Policy Trends

As agricultural drone technology is increasingly being embraced by farmers around the world, governments are starting to see the many benefits that this brings to the industry. There have been proposals to revise regulation across Europe, North America and Brazil. In China, DJI’s T16, T20, T10 and T30 agricultural drones were all issued with airworthiness certification by the CAAC.

Agricultural Drone Tests

A number of in-depth tests have been conducted including droplet size tests, drifting tests and herbicide tests, across the DJI Agras agricultural drone series.

Innovations in Drone Application

Drones have been used in a number of innovative ways from pest and disease control in the Maldives to integrating them with traditional grape farming techniques or even in smart farming, optimizing potato and rice yields. One large scale potato farmer in Washington State saw an 80% reduction in insect damage by conducting spot spraying on a 60-hectare field. In Japan a local rice producer was able to save on fertilizer and increase his yield, giving him an additional 5,425 USD per hectare. Some of the more novel use cases include pollination, shaking dead flowers from fruit trees, and spraying of antifreeze and sunscreen for fruit trees.

Best Practices

There are extensive discussions around the world on establishing best practices for agricultural drones, which include crew training, drone technology improvement, pharmaceutical use specifications, standard operating procedures, and safe operation guidelines.

About DJI Agriculture

Since 2006, DJI has led the world with civilian drone innovations that have empowered individuals to take flight for the first time, visionaries to turn their imagination into reality, and professionals to transform their work entirely. With a solution-oriented mindset and genuine curiosity, DJI has expanded its ambitions into the area of agriculture.

In 2012, DJI commenced R&D of agriculture drones and in 2015 established DJI Agriculture. DJI Agriculture is committed to developing innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions to continuously improve agricultural productivity. With products servicing over 100 countries worldwide, DJI Agriculture has empowered over 10 million professional users with intelligent farming solutions.

The post New DJI Agriculture Drone Insight Report Reveals Greater Acceptance, Advanced Farming Techniques and Exploration of Best Practices for Farmers appeared first on DJI Agriculture.