Drone Technology Revolutionizes Crop Spraying at Historic Alabama Farm

Peinhardt Living History Farm in Cullman, Alabama, has embraced cutting-edge drone technology for crop protection, partnering with Sky Spray, a new local business according to The Cullman Times.

High-Tech Solution for Traditional Agriculture

Sky Spray, co-founded by retired Assistant Cullman Police Chief Jason Mickle and Chris Thrasher, utilizes a DJI Agras T40 spray drone for precision agriculture. This season marks their first operational year and inaugural spraying at Peinhardt Farm.

“We want to thank Peinhardt Farms for reaching out and trusting us to provide this service,” Mickle stated, highlighting the significance of this collaboration between modern technology and historical preservation.

Drone Capabilities and Benefits

The DJI AGRAS T40 offers versatile applications:

• Sprays pesticides on row crops, pasture, and rights-of-way
• Features a dry hopper for spreading cover crops and fertilizer
• Battery-powered with a generator for recharging

Mickle emphasized the drone’s advantages: “It allows us to operate when fields are wet, and we can do so without damaging the crop or compacting the soil. For row crops, this means higher yields.”

Precision Agriculture in Action

At Peinhardt Farm, Sky Spray applied fungicide and insecticide to pumpkins and sorghum. The treatment targeted potential fungi growth and combated army worms, a prevalent pest in Cullman County.

The drone’s GPS and RTK technology ensure precise mapping and grid patterns, resulting in uniform application. This precision “lowers input cost on chemical and seed,” Mickle explained.

Future of Farming

While drone use in agriculture might seem novel in Alabama, Mickle noted its established presence elsewhere: “Drones have been used extensively in the Midwest and other areas of the country, spraying hundreds of thousands of acres.”

DroneXL’s Take

The integration of drone technology at Peinhardt Living History Farm represents a fascinating blend of historical preservation and agricultural innovation. This development aligns with the growing trend of drone use in precision agriculture, which we’ve covered extensively at DroneXL.

As we’ve seen in recent articles about crop monitoring and pest control, drones are becoming invaluable tools for farmers, offering efficiency, precision, and environmental benefits. The adoption of this technology by a living history farm underscores its widespread applicability and potential to revolutionize farming practices across diverse settings.

What are your thoughts on the use of drones in traditional farming settings? Share your opinions in the comments section below.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Photo courtesy of Jason Mickle