Using Spray Drones in Indiana, Certification Requirements

Spray drones provide opportunities for making pesticide applications that previously were unavailable or difficult to achieve using traditional aerial and ground equipment. Spray drones can be deployed for pesticide applications in forestry, mosquito control programs, container nurseries, row and vegetable crops, timber stand improvement, invasive weeds, roadside spraying, and fly control in dairy operations. Multiple industries have quickly adopted spray drones because they are easy to use, versatile, and reasonably priced.

Those who want to operate spray drones, like other application methods, must navigate many regulatory layers before becoming officially recognized as a spray drone pilot. Individuals must follow rules outlines by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), their state pesticide regulatory agency, and the EPA, because no matter the application method, the label is always the law. These rules feel cumbersome, and individuals can spend many hours attempting to understand them.

Please visit the Purdue Pesticide Programs webpage to view digital and archived publications.