When it comes to forestry, harvest time is busy enough without worrying about safety risks. For years, if you needed to dessicate a block before harvest, your only real option was calling in a helicopter. It’s loud, it’s expensive.
But things are changing. At Agri Drone Specialists, we are seeing more forestry managers switch to drones for their post harvest spraying. It’s not just about new tech; it’s about keeping people safe and getting a better result. Here is why drones are beating the choppers.
Zero Risk to Human Life
This is the biggest one. When a helicopter sprays a steep gully or a tight windrow, there is a pilot sitting in that machine. They are flying low, dodging tree lines, and dealing with unpredictable winds. If something goes wrong, the consequences are tragic.
With a drone, the pilot is safely on the ground. We fly our DJI Agras T50 from a secure spot, using high-tech cameras and radar to navigate. If a drone hits a branch (which is rare anyway thanks to obstacle avoidance), the only thing that gets hurt is plastic. It takes the “danger factor” completely out of the equation.
Less Drift, More Control
Helicopters are heavy. To stay in the air, they have to push a massive amount of air downwards. This is called “rotor wash.” When they release spray, that huge gust of wind can blow chemicals onto neighboring properties, waterways, or native bush.
Drones are different. Because we fly much lower and slower than a helicopter, we can target the spray exactly where it needs to go. The downdraft from our drones actually helps push the chemical down into the canopy, rather than blowing it sideways. This means better coverage for you and less worry about damaging the environment.
Getting Into the Tight Spots
Helicopters need room to move. They cant safely fly into narrow gullies or under power lines. This usually leaves you with “dead spots” that need to be sprayed by hand crews on foot—which is slow and hard work.
Our drones are agile. We can fly right up to the edge of a boundary or dip into a steep gully without any trouble. We can tackle the tricky bits that helicopters just can’t reach.
Not Just for Liquids
While a lot of people know us for our efficient Fertiliser Spreading Drone Services, that same heavy-lift technology is what makes us so good at spraying. whether its dropping solid fertiliser on a hill block or spraying desiccant on pines, the GPS precision is exactly the same. You don’t need a massive airstrip or a fuel truck; we just turn up with our ute and get to work.
