Mar 17, 2024

MSU offers spray drone education day

Michigan State University is hosting a workshop for spray drone owners.

The new event, the Spray Drone Spring Fly-in, is an all-day workshop April 10 (in case of rain, it will be April 17) at the MSU Clarksville Research Center, in Clarksville, Michigan. Doors open at 8 a.m., with presentations starting at 9 a.m. The morning will feature education sessions and the afternoon will give participants an opportunity to see spray drone swath testing, and the possibility of testing their own drones.

The cost is $50 per person. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration closes at the end of the day April 6.

The tentative agenda for the fly-in:

• 9 a.m. — Mark Ledebuhr of Application Insight LLC will discuss the fundamentals that go into chemical applications.
• 10 a.m. — Mike Reinke of MSU Extension will provide updates on his spray drone research.
• 11 a.m. — Tom Smith of MSU Extension will walk through the aerial application specifics of pesticide labeling.
• Noon — lunch
• 1:30 p.m. — Field demonstration of swath evaluation tools and analysis of those tools to optimize spray drones
• 2:30 p.m. — spray drone swath testing. Bring your spray drone if you have are a legal pilot.

Anyone wishing to test their own drone settings will be required to bring proof of certifications. (Part 107 certification and 44807 exemption if over 55 pounds.) Michigan RUP credits have been applied for and will include aerial credits.

If you have any questions, email Mike Reinke at [email protected] or call 573-239-0808. More details are at https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/michigan-spray-drone-spring-fly-in-workshop.

Top photo: MSU’s Spray Drone Spring Fly-in features education and demonstrations. Photo courtesy MSU.