Sunflower is one of the key oilseed crops, providing stable income for Ukrainian farmers, as it holds a significant share in export goods and forms the basis for global sunflower oil production. Therefore, desiccation of this crop is a crucial agricultural operation that significantly impacts yield and, ultimately, the profitability of sunflower cultivation amid current economic challenges. On the eve of the active desiccation season, more and more market experts are coming together to share knowledge and practical insights on this critical stage that ensures high crop quality, uniform ripening, reduces harvest losses, and improves crop storage. On August 13, 2024, DroneUA participated in an online webinar hosted by partners FERM on the topic: "Desiccation by Agro-Drones—an Integral Part of Resource-Saving Approach in Crop Cultivation," where the feasibility of desiccation for sunflowers, corn, and soybeans was discussed, along with the effectiveness of agro-drones in this process.
The Use of Agro-Drones for Desiccation
Agro-drones have already become an indispensable tool in modern agricultural production, particularly for the desiccation process, offering a range of undeniable advantages, as highlighted by Bohdan Poryvai, Team Lead of the FERM drone project.
Optimal Distribution of Products and Increased Efficiency
With the help of agro-drones, farmers achieve uniform application during desiccation and avoid missed areas during spraying. This reduces the cost of products and ensures optimal conditions for drying plants, which is critically important for preserving crop quality.
Resource Optimization and Environmental Impact Reduction
Desiccation using agro-drones reduces labor costs since it only requires an operator and an assistant, in contrast to entire teams working with wheeled machinery. Additionally, resource optimization occurs, and environmental impact is minimized by reducing the amount of pesticides used. This is made possible through targeted application and ultra-small droplet size, ensuring better absorption, reducing product waste, and preventing solution runoff into the soil. An important environmental benefit of using agro-drones is the reduction of carbon footprint due to the use of electric batteries.
Timeliness of Operations
Thanks to the high mobility of agro-drones, they can be quickly deployed for desiccation, allowing operations to be carried out during critical time windows and even in unfavorable weather conditions, such as immediately after rain.
Working on Complex Areas and Zero Crop Damage
The integration of unmanned solutions makes the desiccation process faster, more efficient, and less costly. Agro-drones can operate on areas with complex terrain and configurations, as well as treat fields without causing any damage to crops. Given the high percentage of crop trampling by wheeled machinery—up to 10%—the use of unmanned solutions becomes a crucial factor in reducing losses by minimizing crop damage caused by the formation of technological tracks.
Development of Unmanned Technologies in Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities
Currently, Ukraine boasts the largest fleet of agricultural drones in Europe and has become a leader in the use of unmanned solutions over the past few years. This capability allows for agricultural operations to be conducted even under the most challenging conditions, while maintaining maximum efficiency and optimizing time and human resources. Anatolii Bezoliuk, Head of the Agro Division at DroneUA and XAG Ukraine, noted that as of 2023, agricultural drones have been used to treat about 1 million hectares of farmland. He also highlighted the current challenges faced by Ukrainian farmers.
Complicated Export Processes
The complex export situation for grain crops, particularly sunflowers and sunflower oil, is driving up prices in the domestic market, which is especially burdensome given the rising energy costs associated with cultivation. The use of robotics is becoming a critical solution for optimizing production processes and reducing expenses.
Shortage of Qualified Personnel
The technology of ultra-low-volume spraying (ULV) has already proven its effectiveness on Ukrainian fields, prompting farmers to adopt the method in their operations. However, the lack of qualified personnel capable of effectively operating agricultural drones poses challenges for the widespread adoption of this technology. Aware of the urgency of this issue and the importance of preparing specialists, DroneUA actively collaborates with educational institutions to train agricultural drone pilots. Thirteen drone technology classrooms have been established across Ukraine, where students can gain hands-on experience with drone construction and piloting skills. Additionally, more than 720 people have received drone operator training at the Vocational Education Centers of the State Employment Service, to which DroneUA has provided nine operational spraying kits.
Own Agrodrone VS Service Companies
A common dilemma among agricultural producers during the desiccation season is whether to purchase their own agrodrone or to use the services of specialized companies with expertise in performing various agricultural operations. The ideal collaboration formula includes combining service-based solutions with the use of one’s own agrodrone, allowing farm employees to gain experience from service companies' specialists. This creates opportunities for agricultural producers to independently carry out technological operations with their own equipment in future seasons, and to do so more effectively.
Desiccation by Agrodrones as a Cost-Reduction Technology
During the discussions, Serhii Khablak, an agronomy expert and author at FERM, detailed a technological roadmap for plant protection and care. He highlighted the role and importance of desiccation as a key element in this technology and provided recommendations for conducting this agricultural operation. These recommendations included optimal spraying rates, relevant chemicals, and appropriate application periods.
The expert emphasized that desiccation is not only relevant for sunflowers but also for soybeans and corn. Tall crops, in particular, require special attention due to the significant efforts and resources needed for their harvest. Desiccation, therefore, plays a critical role in reducing costs, as dried plants are easier to harvest, which also minimizes yield losses during the process.
Khablak also focused on the economic benefits of desiccation, especially in light of rising gas prices, which have made drying crops in elevators, such as corn, unprofitable. Desiccation allows for a reduction in grain moisture directly in the field, thereby lowering the overall costs associated with drying and storage.
DroneUA extends its gratitude to the organizers of the online webinar—FERM—and to the participants for the expert discussions that are driving the national agricultural industry towards innovation. Without pausing in our quest to spread effective approaches to executing key agricultural operations, we invite everyone to join the upcoming online event hosted by DroneUA: "Sunflower Desiccation 2.0: A Strategy for Global Market Leadership," scheduled for August 15, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM (Kyiv time). Participation is free; register at the following link:https://forms.office.com/e/jcidMgweDW.
