Rapeseed Farming with DJI Agriculture Drone Solutions

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A complete solution guide for using DJI Agriculture drones when farming rapeseed In the world of agriculture, rapeseed stands out as a crop of tremendous global significance. Originally cultivated over 4,000 years ago in India, rapeseed has emerged as the third-largest source of vegetable oil and the second-largest source of protein meal worldwide. Its importance extends to countries like China, Canada, and India, which are top producers, collectively yielding millions of tons annually. Despite its importance, rapeseed farmers face substantial challenges using traditional farming methods, including inefficiencies, high labor costs, and potential safety risks. In this article we discuss how drones can help elevate rapeseed farming efficiency and yields. Challenges of Traditional Rapeseed Farming Traditional rapeseed farming often leaves farmers struggling with inefficiencies and losses. The use of tractors and ground sprayers poses risks to crop integrity and incurs high operational costs. These methods also demand significant labor input and are challenged by adverse weather conditions. During wet conditions, tractors may struggle to operate, further delaying critical farming tasks and potentially impacting crop health. In contrast, drones provide a nimble and efficient alternative, capable of addressing many of these pain points through advanced technology and precision application. Wheel track damage: While the tractor is spraying between lines, it may damage approximately 5.3% of crops, reducing yield by about €79.5-119.25 per hectare per season in Romania during 2023.(Calculation: 5.3% damage * €500/ton * 3-4.5 tons/ha = €79.5-119.25/ha/season). 5.3% damage: (40 cm width per wheel * 2 wheels * 1000 m field length = 800 sqm, divided by 15 m spray width * 1000 m field length).  Low efficiency: Capable of covering only 25-30 hectares per day over a 10-hour period with a Massey Ferguson 3650.  High labor requirements and costs: €50 per day for a tractor driver, plus an additional €50 for another driver to bring water needed for mixing chemicals. Due to small field sizes (1-30 ha), frequent transfers are necessary, requiring €50 for three additional helpers to measure the 15 m spray width per tractor lacking GNSS navigation. This results in 2-5 workers needed, increasing costs significantly.  Increased fuel consumption: Costs €12.96 per hectare (1.62€/L * 200 L diesel/25 ha).  Water wastage by ground sprayers: Consumes 400-500 L/ha after mixing with chemicals, creating a challenging farming situation due to water scarcity in countries like Romania in 2024. Farmers must repeatedly transport water, reducing spraying efficiency.  Post-rain waiting period: Requires at least 1-2 days before the tractor can enter the field for spraying, preventing it from getting stuck in muddy terrain but potentially limiting healthy rapeseed growth.  Difficulty accessing fields during late growth stages: Tractors struggle to enter fields, leading farmers to abandon pest prevention or control, potentially decreasing rapeseed yield. The Advantages of Adopting Drone Technology for Rapeseed Farming Drone technology in agriculture presents a suite of solutions to overcome these traditional challenges. For starters, agricultural drones can operate without damaging crops, as fly over the plants ensuring zero contact. This not only preserves the integrity of the crops but also increases potential yield by eliminating losses due to wheel track damage. Furthermore, drones significantly save on labor and fuel; they require only one to two operators and use less fuel than tractors. Additionally, drones conserve water by using precise spraying techniques, ultimately reducing chemical waste and promoting sustainable farming practices.   Benefit Data or Examples No crop damage and yield loss caused by wheel track The drone can bring €79.5-119.25/ha/season more income for the farmer Significantly save chemical fuel compared to ground sprayers Averagely €0.81/ha is required, saving 93% of fuel cost compared to that used by a tractor. Ps: €0.81/ha = (€1.62/L gasoline * 25 L gasoline/50 ha used) Decreasing labor requirement and cost on the farm 1-2 persons are enough for T30 or T50 operation, costing €50-100, while a tractor costs €100-250 (2-5 persons required) Higher efficiency than small & middle-sized ground sprayers Reaching 50-80 ha/day, Tractor: 25-30 ha/day, with an increased efficiency of 66-220% Saving water resources, alleviating agricultural water problems Agricultural drone: 10-20 L/ha; Tractor: 400-500 L/ha, saving about 95%. Tractors use much water per hectare (e.g., 400 L/ha after mixing with chemicals), causing efficiency loss due to water transport needs Timely response minimizes potential losses by doing post-rain spraying Only 1-2 hours after rain, the drone can start the spraying work Drone Application Opportunities in Rapeseed Farming Throughout the rapeseed life cycle, there are numerous occasions where drones can provide immense value. During the germination and leaf development stages, drones can apply pre- and post-emergence herbicides, effectively managing weed growth. Moving into the flowering and pod development stages, drones can administer fungicides and insecticides, ensuring plant health and optimizing growth conditions. At the ripening stage, drones can be used for the precise application of fertilizers, promoting robust crop development. This versatility demonstrates the critical role drones can play at every phase of rapeseed farming.   Growth Stage Name Type of Spraying GS0 (Germination and emergence) Pre-and post-emergence herbicide spraying GS1 (Leaf development) Pre-and post-emergence herbicide spraying GS2 (Side-shoot formation) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS3 (Stem elongation/extension) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS5 (Inflorescence/flower-bud emergence) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS6 (Flowering) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS7 (Pod/seed (fruit) development) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS8 (Pod/seed (fruit) ripening) Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer spraying GS8 (Pod/seed (fruit) ripening) Cover crop seeding GS9 (Senescence) Cover crop seeding Best Practices for Rapeseed Spraying with Drones To maximize the benefits of drones in rapeseed farming, it is essential to follow best practices. It’s recommended to operate drones at a height of 3-3.2 meters above the crop with route spacing of 6-6.5 meters and a flight speed of 20-25 km/h for optimal results. Constant consultation with agronomists and adherence to chemical labels will further enhance these operations. Parameter DJI Agras T40/T50 (Herbicide) DJI Agras T40/T50 (Insecticide/Fungicide/Foliar Fertilizer) DJI Agras T30 (Herbicide) DJI Agras T30 (Insecticide/Fungicide/Foliar Fertilizer) Application Rate (L/ha) 15-25 10-20 15-25 10-20 Droplet Size (µm) 250-400 100-300 XR110015VS…

DJI Agriculture Annual Report Finds the Global Agricultural Drone Industry is Booming

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DJI Agriculture Annual Report Finds the Global Agricultural Drone Industry is Booming Over 300,000 drones operate globally, treating more than 500 million hectares of farmland around the world.   https://youtu.be/hdOPapmBAo8 July 10, 2024 — DJI Agriculture, a global leader in facilitating agricultural innovation through drone technology, unveils its Agriculture Drone Industry Insight Report (2023/2024), showcasing a booming global agricultural drone industry in 2023. Covering policy initiatives and emerging drone applications, the report offers a comprehensive overview to navigate the evolving landscape of agricultural drone technology for 2023/2024.   “DJI Agriculture aims to boost farmland management efficiency by leveraging digital solutions and intelligent drones, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability,” stated Yuan Zhang, Head of Global Sales at DJI Agriculture. “This report highlights that governments and farmers worldwide are embracing agriculture drones and smart farming techniques to enhance food production in a more scientific, sustainable, and eco-friendly manner.” Key Findings from the 2023/2024 Report The rapid adoption of agricultural drones worldwide is a testament to the transformative power of emerging technologies in the agricultural sector. By the end of 2023, over 300,000 of these drones were in operation globally, having already treated more than 500 million hectares of farmland around the world.   The remarkable efficiency of these drones has led to substantial savings, including a cumulative reduction of 210 million metric tons of water and 47,000 metric tons of pesticides. Furthermore, the implementation of agricultural drones has significantly decreased carbon emissions by 25.72 million metric tons. This reduction is equivalent to the carbon sequestration provided by 1.2 billion trees, underscoring the sustainable and eco-friendly nature of this innovative approach to modern agriculture. Global Policy Trends The report notes that governments in several countries have begun to liberalize regulations. In Brazil, the ANAC amended regulations to only require drone registration and pilot licensing before operations can begin. In the US, the FAA published an approval list of agricultural drones that can be used directly with exemptions. China has issued regulations allowing drone pilots to be trained by manufacturers. “We are excited about these advancements in regulatory frameworks, as they will help to expand the use of agricultural drones and ultimately benefit farmers worldwide,” said Zhang. Best Practices The report also highlights best practices, offering valuable guidance on personnel training, drone technology, agricultural applications, and the integration of agronomy and drones. Farmers can directly refer to this guidance to implement more professional agricultural operations. Technological Advancements The report also highlights technological advancements that have contributed to the growth of the agricultural drone industry. The integration of artificial intelligence (Al) has allowed for more precise and efficient data processing and decision-making. Furthermore, developments in sensor technology have improved capabilities in precision agriculture. These advancements have not only increased efficiency but also reduced costs for farmers. Agricultural Drone Tests and Case Studies Numerous tests and case studies were documented by DJI Agriculture and its partners in 2023, including: https://youtu.be/VXCP-tOgpB8 · Drifting tests for the Agras T50 and T25 models in China, Australia, and Hungary. · Management of a 10-hectare navel orange orchard through a full growth cycle by a single farmer. · Herbicide application over agave farms in Mexico, saving 88% water and reducing costs by over $60 USD per hectare. (Video link at document’s end) · Targeted weed spraying in Australian pasture land, saving 50% on costs and reducing chemical usage by 51%. · Pesticide spraying in a 1,500-tree durian orchard in Thailand, reducing chemical usage by 20-30%. · Ripener spraying on smallholder sugarcane farms in South Africa, increasing final sugar yields by up to 1.78 tons per hectare. Conclusion DJI Agriculture’s annual report highlights significant progress in the agricultural drone industry and paves the way for future advancements. By prioritizing sustainability and innovation, we aim to revolutionize modern agriculture and positively impact global food production. Stay tuned for our next update as we work towards a greener, smarter, and more efficient agricultural future.

Agriculture Drone Insurance

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What you need to know about insurance for your agriculture drones Introduction Drones are rapidly revolutionizing agriculture across the world. From precision crop monitoring to targeted pesticide application, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are boosting efficiency and yields around the world and are not going away anytime soon. However, with the promise of technology comes risk. That’s why specialized agriculture drone insurance is essential for responsible and successful drone operations. The History of Aerial Application and Drone Insurance Insurance has been around for hundreds of years, but aerial application insurance is a relatively new thing. Orville and Wilbur Wright became the first people to successfully fly a powered aircraft back in 1903, and that innovation sparked a revolution in the way we do many things today. The ability to travel quickly through the air created advancements in not only travel, mail delivery, aerial surveying, and eventually space exploration, but it also opened the door to massively increase the crop yields from aerial application. Aerial application, also known as “Crop Dusting”, was first started back in 1921 by Army Air Corps pilot Lieutenant John A. Macready who successfully sprayed 6,000 Catalpa trees with lead arsenate. After that, it was only a matter of time before the aerial application industry would take off!    Things have mostly stayed the same over the past 100 years with pilots flying single engine fixed-winged airplanes to spray fields. Over time, technological innovations such as turbine engine aircraft and rotor wing aircraft were introduced into the industry and aerial application became even faster and more effective. Within the last 10-15 years, UAV’s (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles) started making their way into the market and within the last 5-7 years, they have really started to make their impact on the aerial application industry. DJI is the world’s largest drone manufacturer and has made huge strides in changing the landscape. With thousands of spray drones entering the market, it has altered the way we think about aerial application as an industry.    Today, the insurance market is still adjusting to the influx of spray drones, but more and more aerial application insurance companies are starting to see the benefits of writing policies for these new aircraft. Some companies are only writing spray drones as supporting business with existing crewed aircraft accounts, while others are writing these on a stand-alone basis. All these insurance companies must make sure their customers are following the rules and regulations for these new operations and that is why only specialized insurance companies who have been re-insured with FAA compliances can write this type of business. The rules and regulations are changing every day, and it is important to make sure your insurance agent is immersed in the evolving world of the FAA and drone operation regulations. The Need for Agriculture Drone Insurance Agricultural application drones, while incredibly useful, come with inherent risks. Accidents can happen in many forms and insurance is there to protect you from the things you can and cannot foresee. It is our job as aviation insurance brokers to make sure you are protected from any and all risks that can come from your spray operation. Here are some examples of what could happen during a drone spraying operation:   – Physical damage to the drone: Crashing your drone or having a non-flying incident. – Damage to property: A drone could crash into buildings, vehicles, or other equipment. – Injuries to people: Flying the drone into someone or spraying chemicals onto bystanders. – Crop damage: Overspray damage to property of a 1st or 3rd party. – Unforeseen Incidentals: Flying a drone into powerlines causing power outages to essential facilities like hospitals, schools, refrigeration units, or government buildings. – Lawsuits: Legal protection from any lawsuit from your work as an aerial applicator.   – Pollution: Chemical spills into waterways or other environmentally protected areas. – War and Terrorism: This is always a worry when flying heavy drones which can carry large payloads. In the U.S., all insurance companies must offer War/TRIA when quoting aircraft policies. – Non-Owned Insurance: Chemical companies or other 3rd party companies who contributed to the aerial application but did not fly the operation.   These incidents can lead to significant financial losses and legal liabilities for aerial applicators. Ag spray drone insurance provides essential safeguards.  Types of Coverage on an Aerial Application Policy In an aerial application insurance policy, applicators will have a few primary coverages: Hull, Spares, Chemical Liability, and Non-Chemical Liability. The coverages that are required for legal flight in the United States are the Chemical and Non-Chemical Liability. Each state is different and has its own rules and regulations you’ll need to abide by to do aerial application in that state. For example, one state may require you to get a ground pesticide license with an aerial category to do custom application from an aircraft in that state; while others will only require you to get a pesticide license with no proof of chemical liability insurance. It is important to know the laws in the states that you are flying in and have an agent who knows what to ask for. The primary coverages of an aerial application policy are as follows: Hull Coverage – This covers the cost of repair or replacement if your drone is damaged or destroyed. – This will include physical damage coverage for your drone while in flight, and while not in flight. – You get to choose your hull limit (within reason) and that is the replacement cost to make you whole in the event of a total loss. Spare Parts – This covers the cost of repair or replacement of any equipment that is necessary for your aerial application operation that is not flying.  – Examples include: spare batteries, spreader systems (while detached), charging stations, cooling stations, generators, RTK stations, and a field opts kit. Chemical Liability – Aerial application chemical liability can be categorized into 3 types of coverage. Comprehensive Chemical (CC) This has no exclusions and will cover for herbicides and defoliants. Limited Chemical (LC) This…

T50/T25 Firmware Upgrade is Here

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New features and optimizations elevate T50 and T25 efficiency and user experience Save Manual Operations as automatic plots The flight path from a manual flight or a manual boundary flight can now be saved as a field with one click for automatic use later. This is helpful for small plots, where you can fly once and save it for repeated use. Pilots can save time on larger plots by manually spraying field boundaries and automatically spraying the rest of the field.Notes: The green track on the outermost circle determines the coverage area of the plot. Ensure that the edges of the plot are covered by the green track to avoid omissions. When using this function to encircle the plot, since the edges have already been sprayed, be sure to edit and adjust the route separately (route spacing, margin, boundary spraying, etc.) to avoid overspraying or missing spots. Add Marker Lines and Points When planning flight routes, you can now add marker lines and points to points of interest on the map.   Application Examples:   Marker Lines: Can be used to mark the location of power lines within the plot, making it easier to track their location relative to the drone during operations.   Marker Points: Can be used to mark objects in fields, making it easier to locate and find them quickly after covering the soil. Notes: Unlike field boundary points and obstacle points, marker lines and points do not affect route planning or flight operations; they are only used for position display. Marker lines and points cannot be saved separately. They need to be added to boundary points and saved as a plot. Low Speed Ascend at the start point After a refill or battery swap, when the drone returns to the start point or break point, its propeller downwash at low altitude and speed may cause some crops to lodge. After enabling Low Speed Ascend, the drone can descend and spray from the set Low Speed Ascend height, reducing the risk of lodging. The start-spraying height is Operation Height plus Low Speed Ascend Height Note: Enabling Low Speed Ascend will apply to all turns and starting points (breakpoints). Please use it only where there are no obstacles at the field boundaries and in the field. Added Route Visualization function in M+ mode In M+ mode, Route Visualization helps users find the breakpoint and align the drone’s direction according to guidelines. This helps users avoid route deviation and inconsistent spacing. Note: To disable this feature, go to “Top Right Corner Settings – Aircraft Settings – Alert and Assist – Route Visualization (M+)” and choose to turn it off. Task Summary is available in real time during operations During operations, you can view task summaries in real-time, including completed work data, estimated chemical usage, and the remaining work to be done. Multi Plot Operations get some optimizations Multi Plot Operations now supports Empty Tank Point estimation and Automatic RTH.   When using Multitask, Empty Tank Point estimation can now span multiple plots, showing the estimated Empty Tank Point based on the actual volume of chemical left in the tank. In addition, users can now select “Return Home After Completing Operation” when using Multi Plot Operations. Once enabled, the drone will automatically return to home after completing all plot operations.   Note: Smart Return to Home supports obstacle avoidance, but the success rate of obstacle avoidance varies with different speeds and obstacles. Please pay attention to the surrounding environment and avoid heights with power lines during return to ensure safety. Introducing Show Fields Nearby to help avoid overlapping The new “Show Fields Nearby” function helps users avoid overlap by displaying nearby fields on the map during field planning. It also aids in manual operations, helping to avoid accidentally entering adjacent fields. Spray/Spread When Turning on Orchard Routes With Spray/Spread When Turning enabled, the drone will continue to spray while turning, improving edge spraying effectiveness. Note: This is only effective when the orchard route planning mode is Standard. You can enable it in the remote controller app under “Route Settings – Advanced.” Additional Updates: Takeoff is prevented during refilling, enhancing safety for ground crews and operators. During flight, pilots can press the orange pause button on the remote controller. This will cause the drone to pause automatic flight and enter hover mode. After landing, propeller rotation stops two seconds faster, increasing safety and reducing downtime. Added support to perform spreading at the fixed-spot routes in Fruit Tree Operation mode. Added support to disable atomized spraying in the Fruit Tree Operation mode. Added support to set the terrain scenario and flight parameters in the Task Settings on the left side of the screen when applying the task. Optimized the display of the flight trajectory in the app. The flight routes of the latest two flights are shown in the app during the operation. Added warnings when the propellers are abnormal.

DJI Agriculture Signs a Smart Agriculture Partnership Agreement with Syngenta Japan

Cooperative Upgrade! DJI Agriculture Signs a Smart Agriculture Partnership Agreement with Syngenta Japan

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Recently, DJI Agriculture signed an agreement with the well-known agricultural company Syngenta Japan. The two companies will conduct a series of cooperative projects in Japan, focusing on smart agriculture technology R&D and other areas. Japanese agriculture is facing serious challenges, including a shortage of labor caused by a decline in fertility and an aging population. In order to address these issues, the Japanese government’s Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform relaxed many restrictions on pesticide spraying by multi-rotor agricultural drones. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is expanding the types of pesticides that can be sprayed from multi-rotor agricultural drones.   In 2016, DJI Agriculture officially entered the Japanese market, becoming the first foreign company to be certified by the Japan Agriculture and Fisheries Association. Currently, DJI accounts for nearly 60% of the Japanese market for multi-rotor agricultural drones and has already trained 2,500 drone operators (as of March 2019). In the Japanese agricultural field, the use of multi-rotor agricultural drones is rapidly spreading, and relevant government departments are mandating higher requirements for the safety performance of agricultural aircraft. In order to better achieve safety and reliability in the agricultural drone and pesticide fields, DJI Agriculture will work with Syngenta Japan to develop safe spraying technical standards and education courses for multi-rotor agricultural drones in Japan. They will also conduct tests on drone-based aerial application and R&D on smart agriculture technologies.   Syngenta Japan president Minoru Matoba expressed his high expectations for DJI agricultural drones: “In addition to agricultural applications, agricultural drones can be used to care for non-editable plants, such as for golf course maintenance. Through our bilateral cooperation, we will use the effective spray technology and remote sensing technology provided by agricultural drones to promote the development of smart agriculture in Japan. ”   In addition to creating courses and developing new technologies, DJI Agriculture and Syngenta Japan will work together to develop new markets and create all-new business models. Director Wu Tao of DJI’s Japan branch said, “The effective spray performance of agricultural drones required the cooperation of pesticide companies. By combining Syngenta’s agricultural technology and DJI’s drone technology, we hope to improve the safety, reliability, and sustainability of agriculture drone solutions in Japan and throughout the world.  ”   Going forward, DJI Agriculture and Syngenta Japan will work together to promote the combined application of agricultural drones and smart agriculture in Japan.

How Far Can DJI Agricultural Drones Fly?

How Far Can DJI Agricultural Drones Fly?

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Latin America, located in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, is the farthest region from China. With superior production conditions and rich agricultural resources, it is considered the “granary of the world” for the 21st century. As a natural extension of the Maritime Silk Road, China has developed closer relations with Latin American countries under the Belt and Road initiative, and broad agricultural cooperation between the two regions looks promising: Brazilian coffee, avocados from Mexico, Cuban sugar, and many other Latin American agricultural products are now common in Chinese homes. However, many people do not realize that cutting-edge Chinese aerial application technology is starting to see widespread application in Latin American agriculture, quietly influencing the development of agricultural science and technology in the region.   In 2016, DJI Agriculture officially entered the Latin American market. To date, agricultural drones from DJI agriculture are already used on over 2.6 million acres of Latin American farmland. They are used for the cultivation of coffee, sugarcane, melons, corn, and other crops all over South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Intelligence Raises the Quality of Specialty Coffee Located in the eastern part of South America, Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, accounting for a third of global coffee production. Its terrain of rolling hills and pleasant climate make the coffee from Minas Gerais in southern Brazil famous throughout the world.   In recent years, insects and plant diseases, such as coffee rust, have affected coffee production, increasing the demand for pesticide spraying on coffee plantations. However, specialty coffee plantations are often located on steep slopes, making manual pest control and other traditional methods difficult.   In 2018, DJI Agriculture’s Agras MG-1P agricultural drones began to be used on Brazilian coffee plantations, bringing the power of technological innovation to the centuries-old coffee industry. When attacked by coffee rust, the drones flew into action, bringing new life to the old plantations. Precision Prevents Contamination While Protecting Crops In contrast to the difficult terrain of Brazilian coffee plantations, banana plantations in Ecuador face the problem of environmental contamination due to traditional crop protection methods.   Ecuador is the world’s largest exporter of bananas. As banana trees grow to about 5 meters in height, manual spraying is of limited effectiveness. Therefore, plantations often used fixed-wing aircraft.   However, as most banana plantations are near rivers or residential areas, it is hard for fixed-wing aircraft to spray pesticides without the risk of contaminating the local area, resulting in a great deal of environmental contamination to rivers and other bodies of water.   In order to address the problem of river pollution, the Ecuadorian government called for the use of drones for more precise aerial application. Currently, DJI Agriculture’s Agras MG-1P RTK agricultural drones are used with local single-rotor aircraft, providing a precise solution for banana plantations and effectively reducing river pollution. Sugar Means Job for Low-income Countries El Salvador, located in the north of Central America, is one of the smallest countries in the world. Its domestic economy is dominated by agriculture, particularly sugarcane and cotton. Due to the country’s weak industrial economy, incomes in El Salvador are generally low, and there is little investment in agricultural technology.   As China develops increasingly close economic and trade relations with El Salvador, it has begun to export agricultural technology to the country. In 2019, agricultural drones from DJI technology officially began operating in El Salvador.   Currently, DJI is working with partners in El Salvador to establish specialized agricultural service companies in order to train drone operators. This will stimulate the prosperous growth of the crop protection industry for sugarcane and other local crops. Hard Work Is Necessary for Precision Agriculture In addition to using efficient equipment to serve resource-rich Latin American countries, DJI Agriculture continuously promotes local talent development and technical training in order to lay a foundation for high-quality services.   Currently, DJI Agriculture has already established a complete aftersales and user training system in Latin America. This system trains users in everything from theoretical knowledge to drone operation to complete workflows. By adapting measures to local conditions, DJI is able to tailor its high-quality aerial application solutions to the needs of Latin American farmers.   In September 2019 alone, DJI Agriculture held dozens of in-person training sessions in Mexico, Peru, Honduras, and other countries, attracting an increasing number of young professionals.   The Belt and Road initiative represents a major development opportunity for Latin America and also provides a platform through which China can export agricultural technology to the region. Advocating the principle of mutually beneficial partnerships, DJI Agriculture wishes to use its aerial application technology to promote and improve the application of agricultural technology in Latin America. This will create new opportunities for the development of Latin American agriculture and promote the healthy development of Sino-Latin American cooperation in agriculture.   In the past, our ancestors sailed across the sea along the Maritime Silk Road. In the future, DJI Agriculture will again take to the seas with a new blueprint for the development of precision agriculture in Latin America.

DJI Agriculture Drone Pilot

DJI Agriculture Drone Pilot – A career with great potential in Ukraine.

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The profession of drone pilot can be thought of as a unique career for the future and a profession in demand today. As the uses of unmanned aircraft are growing at a tremendous rate, these specialists are in greatest demand in agriculture. How much can a drone pilot in the field realistically earn, what equipment is needed, and what knowledge is required in this profession? Pavlo Laskovets will tell all. Why and how did you start working as a drone pilot? I worked in sales and consulting for many years, and I was never involved in operating drones. I just read about the capabilities of unmanned aircraft. By chance, I saw an advertisement looking for drone pilots on the internet. I called, went for an interview, and started working. The entire IT field is undergoing rapid growth right now, and technologies in agriculture are a part of this. I’m convinced that the new technologies that are now being put into practice in agriculture will bring about a radical change in the industry’s outlook and make fieldwork as efficient and effective as possible. Just this year, drones are being used to work on 4 times more fields than a year ago. Globally, UAVs are experiencing a real boom. Very recently, Elon Musk was saying that the first drones will soon be working on Mars. Do you remember your first flight? What drone did you use? Yes, I remember it clearly. It was very interesting and at the same time a bit unsettling. Beforehand, I spent a long time asking senior co-workers about the details and tried to prepare as much as possible for all contingencies that could theoretically occur. My first drone was the DJI Agras T16.I started with the desiccation of sunflowers and corn. In general, no tool is better than a drone for replacing traditional methods of desiccation. Usually, if the crop is tall, then a sprayer will work, but the resulting crop destruction is fairly significant; 3–7% of the harvest is lost. This is a huge amount of money per thousand hectares, and it’s one of the advantages that using drones can give you. Does using a drone really save money for agricultural producers? Let’s do the math. Over the long term, the use of drones can reduce the chemicals required per hectare by 50%.To treat crops with a desiccant spray, you need three liters of chemicals and 150–200 liters of water. For 100 ha, that’s 15–20 tons of water. Spraying by drone requires only 1.5 liters of chemical and 5–6 liters of water. That’s 600 liters per 100 hectares. If the field is 10,000 ha, then the savings will be 2000 cubic meters of water, which is a whole Olympic swimming pool or the monthly water consumption of eight 9-story buildings in downtown Kyiv. The savings are also obvious—you can achieve the same result or better, all while saving resources. Do you think that a drone pilot needs an education in agriculture? What knowledge do they need? In my opinion, I can say that it’s realistically possible to work as a drone pilot without special education. For some, a couple of days of training is enough; for others, a month is not enough. It’s not a question of ability, but of whether the person is able to learn from a mentor-practitioner relationship. You have to have a precise algorithm in your head to follow in a particular situation. You can read hundreds of manuals, but the practical aspect is the main thing. A drone pilot must simultaneously be an agronomist and know how to dig the right trench in a field, and a mathematician to do the required calculations. What is the average productivity of drone operation? Productivity depends on three factors—the qualifications of the drone pilot, the weather, and field conditions. On average, you can treat 50 to 120 ha with one drone in one shift. A shift might last from 8 to 14 hours a day. In one hour of continuous operation, you can do about 10 ha on average. Usually, the difference in productivity is significant, but this very much depends on whether the field is flat or not, whether it’s a single unit, and whether you have to move to other parcels. It’s hard work if the field has a lot of posts, shrubs, trees, bogs, a complicated topography or shape, and so on. If there are a lot of small fields, then sometimes much more time is spent traveling and deploying the equipment than actually doing the work. What set of equipment does an pilot need for uninterrupted operation? A starter kit for one pilot is a drone, generator, six batteries, and a charger. As a rule, for comfortable and uninterrupted work, two pilots should travel to the field by bus with 12 batteries, three chargers, and three generators. You need a diesel generator with a power reserve. In our case, we use a 5.5 kW generator. I also recommend having a good rope and a sapper shovel in the vehicle to make sure that you don’t get stuck in one of the fields. Is it realistic to start this business yourself from scratch? How much do you need to invest in equipment, in the drone itself? Yes, one person can do this, provided that you have the appropriate vehicle for the job. Equipment plus batteries and a generator will cost around 700,000 hryvnias. However, you must consider that a generator weighs approximately 100 kg, and you have to carry it with you all the time. From a purely physical standpoint, it’s simpler for two pilots to work together, or at least a pilot and an assistant. The client covers the costs of both the work and the transport services. On average, prices are from UAH 350 or more per hectare. Consequently, you can cover the cost of the drone in 20 working days and then start making money. For example, last season I did approximately 100 shifts spraying insecticides and doing desiccation. The earnings…