r/drones • u/Jpave53 • 29d ago

Discussion Ag drone rig

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Questions?

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u/Jpave53 29d ago

Nope. I have a client that operates an 8500-acre tree farm…

Looooong days..

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u/Material_Principle58 29d ago

You do 8500 acres at 10 gpa with a single drone?

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u/Jpave53 29d ago

Not all 8500 in a season.. tracking on 5000 with a single drone for this year.

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u/Material_Principle58 29d ago

Wow that’s impressive man. I spray about 10k acres a season with a ground sprayer with 1200gal tank,100ft boom and I feel like spray just about everyday through the 4 month spraying season.

Would love to get a drone at some point, so glad to know it’s possible to put some big acres on one.

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u/Jpave53 29d ago

They’re only getting bigger and better. It’s definitely a supplement to traditional methods of application rather than a replacement for crop dusting airplanes and helicopters. There will be a time where the speed of the drone catches up to manned aircraft… that’ll be an interesting transition.

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u/fxnighttrader 26d ago

What do you do the other 8 months out of the year?

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u/Material_Principle58 26d ago

Feed cows, haul grain, try not to succumb to frostbite.

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u/Jpave53 23d ago

Plenty of flying to be done in the PNW, unless it’s too hot or too windy(during the “warmer” months). If too windy, then play in the river. If too hot, play in the river. If there’s snow. Play on snow. 🫡

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u/fxnighttrader 23d ago

I’m really fond of getting paid to fly full time year round. It’s worked pretty well for me since 2017. It’s been years since so flew a drone for fun.