Go Drone Now
We listen & answer your questions
Why should we consider changing the way we do things on the farm?
- Farmers and graziers (primary producers) are the hardest workers in the world. Currently, less than 2% of the world population feed the other 98%. The 2% is shrinking, but the world population keeps growing.
- Each year, farmers and graziers have to produce more with less to remain viable.
- Input costs for producers continue to ratchet up (diesel, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, labour, transport, seeds, materials, machinery, energy).
- Lack of competition in the domestic retail market places downward pressure on your sale price and, therefore, profit margin.
- The rural labour resource pool is shrinking.
- Toughening Industrial Relations laws increase the cost of labour.
- Productivity of the workforce in Australia is decreasing.
- Tightening environmental and emissions laws are challenging traditional production methods.
- Weather patterns are changing and are increasingly unpredictable, making it even more important that you can get the work done in the available weather windows.
Why would I use a drone instead of ground-based machinery?
- Drones can spray chemicals and spread granules very quickly with amazing accuracy and precision.
- Reduced wastage of chemicals and fertilizers saves you money.
- Drones do not have contact with your crops or soil. Therefore they do not compact the soil, damage your crops, or spread unwanted weeds or pests. They have zero footprint on your valuable crops/pastures.
- Drones can apply chemicals and fertilizers when paddocks are too wet for conventional machinery.
- Drones can cover a lot of hectares quickly.
Why use a drone instead of a chopper or fixed wing applicator?
- Drones are safer, and can autonomously avoid obstructions, overhead transmission lines and no-spray zones due to their on-board technology.
- Drones can spread and spray from lower heights than choppers or fixed-wing aircraft.
- The downdraft from a drone drives the chemical deep into the canopy of the crop or target weed, even on tall crops like corn, wheat, sorghum and sugarcane
- Drones reduce the risk of overspray, or spray drift into non-target areas on your place or neighbouring properties.
- Drones reduce the risk to non-target species and environmentally sensitive areas.
- Drones can vary the spray droplet size and application rate when in flight.
- Due to their precision, drones reduce chemical, fertilizer and seering overlap and wastage, saving you money.
- Drones are quick and easy to deploy and can be used for any sized crop or pasture.
What can a drone be used for on my farm?
High-value crops (broad acre or small plots)
- Spray weeds and pests
- Spray growth or ripening promotants
- Fallow spray
- Spray-outs
Drainage channels
- Kill weeds to clear channels
Regrowth
- Spray regrowth in moderately wooded areas
- Apply Grasslands or other tree control granules.
- Steep, undulating or flat terrain.
Steep Country Reclamation
- Spray or spread granules to control woody weeds or regrowth.
How can I be sure the drone pilot knows what he is doing?
CASA Certification and Endorsement
Our Chief Remote Pilot(CRP) has attained CASA endorsement for aerial spraying and spreading for the specific high-capacity drones we use. This involves online and classroom learning, formal exams and practical flight competency assessed and confirmed by CASA.
Aerial Distribution Contractor License
Our CRP holds an Aerial Distribution Contractor License issued by DAF in Queensland.
Use of Restricted Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals
Our team has also attained competency in
- AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals, and
- AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pests, weeds and diseases.
These units of competency from the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package (AHC) meet the national competency standards for the use of restricted agricultural and veterinary chemicals in a work environment.
Experience
Our team has been applying spray and granular herbicides and pesticides using conventional technology in agriculture for 8 years. We have been operating the latest high-tech, high-capacity drones for 12 months now, and have completed many jobs for customers on high-value crops, and for land reclamation/weed control in inaccessible, steep and wooded country.
How will I know if the drone has covered the whole field?
The drone’s on-board control system records its flight path over each field/paddock. These maps are accurate to within a few centimetres and are made available to each client at the end of the job.
What do I need to supply?
We are fully self-sufficient. You do not need to arrange anything.
Most clients choose to supply their own chemicals as they often have cost effective arrangements already in place with their chemical suppliers. GOdrone can also source and supply chemicals at competitive rates if required.
Our purpose-fitted 4WD truck carries up to 3000 litres of water to your job. (We may need to refill on site for larger jobs).
It also carries all the generators, pumps, hoses, chemical mixing and measurement equipment, chemical spill control gear, satellite internet equipment, mobile signal booster, radio, drone, and all other equipment required to get the job done fast.
How accurate is the spray pattern the drone produces?
Our drones use industry-leading GPS technology supported by an RTK positioning beacon. This provides positional accuracy to within a few centimetres, so our spray pattern is pinpoint accurate.
Why Choose GOdrone to be my aerial spray and spread partner?
- We are primary producers with our own primary production operation, so we fully understand the time and cost pressures you are under.
- Our Chief Remote Pilot also has qualifications and experience in electrical engineering, robotics, technology, chemical measurement and instrumentation, dosing and control.
- We run the highest capacity, most accurate, most advanced, most efficient multi-rotor agricultural drones available in the world.
- We operate the drone from a unique, purpose-fitted 4WD truck with everything we need on board. We can position this unique drone base station right where you need us, and get the job done properly, cost-effectively and quickly.