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Beck’s research showing efficacy of spray drones

Research at Beck’s Hybrids is showing the efficacy of spray drones.             

Clayton Stufflebeam, PFR agronomist with Beck’s, says the past three seasons they’ve been comparing fungicide applications via ground rig, aerial application, and spray drones, in plots across the Midwest.

“With corn last year, it was a negative 3-dollar return for the ground machine, so the ground machine was not profitable at all.”  He says, “With the drone, we were plus $16. Now in soybeans, the ground rig at an R3 application was $17.00 positive, and the drone was $42.”

He tells Brownfield they’re duplicating the comparisons in field size trials.

“Year one back in 2022, the plane won every single pass.”  He says, “In ’23, it was much more inconsistent. It was hard to bring out differences across the board, but the drone did perform well.”

Beck’s is expanding the field trials this year, and Stufflebeam says continued advances in drone technology mean they’re becoming another viable option for farmers’ fungicide applications.

Brownfield spoke with Stufflebeam at the Beck’s Hybrids Becknology Days event in El Paso, Illinois.

AUDIO: Clayton Stufflebeam – Beck’s Hybrids