Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research
Project Number: 2040-22430-027-059-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Nov 21, 2025
End Date: Nov 20, 2026
Objective:
The objectives of this study are to: 1) Test and identify optimal seed application rates, carrier mediums, and drone flight parameters to improve germination and establishment of aerially sown forages, 2) Evaluate accuracy of drone monitoring imagery at identifying weed patches in pastures for subsequent spraying and assess efficacy of aerial herbicide applications to improve weed management, and 3) Assess accuracy of drone monitoring imagery at identifying twolined Spittlebug (TLSB) damage in pastures to build foundation for predictive modeling tool.
Approach:
Investigate the use of drone technology as a tool for aerially seeding pastures with TLSB resistant forages to enhance rangeland resilience and productivity, and improve the efficiency of weed control and TLSB monitoring to optimize Integrated Pest Management practices.