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WinField: Adjuvants key to improving drone spray performance

A crop protection specialist says growers should consider adding adjuvants to tank mixes when using spray drones.

Joe Vaillancourt, strategic marketing manager of adjuvants for WinField United, tells Brownfield, “As soon as you are tank mixing your material, that’s when forces are starting to work against you,” he said. “Whether it’s hard water, environmental conditions, or a windy breezy day like this. And with a drone, you’re certainly moving faster than a ground rig.”

He says one of the biggest things often overlooked in drone spraying is proper drift control.

“For a relatively small investment per acre, with our data we’ve been able to show let’s get those nice middle size droplets. It’s going to give us the best chance to reach the crop and even penetrate down through the canopy and ensure nice coverage, especially with these contact chemistries like fungicides.”

Vaillancourt says drone applications can improve returns by getting more product onto the plant.

He spoke to Brownfield at WinField United’s recent drone application workshop in Story City, Iowa.