Using Drones to Protect Kentucky Corn: UK Researchers Lead Precision Agriculture Study

By Jennifer Elwell

The University of Kentucky Research and Education Centeraims to optimize drone-based spray systems to improve access to effective management of foliar diseases in Kentucky cornfields.

This multi-departmental effort of Plant Pathology and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has completed year two of its study, supported by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, and plans to share the results with farmers through a workshop in late February.

According to plant pathology specialist and principal investigator Kiersten Wise, Ph.D., their previous research found that drones are a viable fungicide application option for farmers, especially in smaller fields that cannot be accessed by manned aircraft due to trees or other obstacles. If left untreated, corn foliar diseases can cost Kentucky corn growers nearly $15 per acre.

“Our 2019 on-farm research conducted with Cooperative Extension agents in several counties indicated that foliar fungicides applied by a drone at tasseling and early silking can effectively manage gray leaf spot in corn when using recommended spray carrier volumes,” Wise said. “Once we learned that drone fungicide applications can be effective at managing foliar diseases, we had even more questions about how to optimize these applications.”