In the world of agricultural production, where each day can bring new challenges, cutting-edge technologies have become indispensable assistants. This time, we visited the fields of STOV imeni Shevchenka in the Sumy region, where Mykola Chernyak, CEO of AGRONIX, and Oleksandr Zakovorotnyi, manager at FMC Ukraine in the Sumy region, are conducting research on the effectiveness of applying Vantacor® insecticide using drones for lepidopteran pest control.
Invitation to Research: Why Is It Important?
The situation in the Sumy region has become more complicated due to the increasing population of dangerous pests, such as the European corn borer and the cotton bollworm. For this reason, specialists decided to conduct a study on the application of Vantacor® insecticide using drones. Vantacor® is a modern formulation based on the Rynaxypyr® molecule, preserving all the properties of Coragen® insecticide, including: minimal impact on mammals and ecological toxicity; excellent safety for pollinators and beneficial entomofauna; improved properties for solution preparation, application, and resistance to washing off under low application rates.
Why Is It Important to Use New Technologies?
"Your corn can suffer significant losses without proper protection. If one farmer does not take action, it can affect everyone," explains Mykola. The drone used for spraying provides advantages, as it can easily reach even hard-to-access areas without damaging the plants or trampling them.
Technological Progress in Action: Aerial Spraying
Tonight’s treatment is scheduled for nighttime. Usually, night spraying is risky due to potential obstacles, but in this case, we are confident that the area is safe.
"In some fields, pests appear in such numbers that they can be compared to herds of horses. This poses a serious threat to the crop," comments Mykola Chernyak.
This solution, although unconventional, may prove necessary in situations where traditional spraying methods are not suitable.
Advantages of Drones: At the Forefront of Technology
Thanks to drones, we can deliver the pesticide directly to the lower parts of the plant, where pests tend to accumulate the most. This provides an additional advantage, as spraying covers the entire plant, unlike traditional methods. Among the benefits of using drones are: Precision application, which helps prevent plant damage, crucial for maintaining plant density.
Why Vantacor?
"We chose Vantacor because this product has proven itself on the market as a reliable insecticide against lepidopteran pests," says Oleksandr. "Thanks to its new formulation with adjuvants, it ensures pH stability of the solution for up to 72 hours."
It is important that the product contains 600 g of active ingredient per liter, with an application rate reduced to 30–50 ml per hectare. This makes it ideal for ultra-low-volume application using drones.
The product, which demonstrates high efficiency in preserving the corn yield, will be applied to an area of 5 hectares using drones.
Looking Ahead: Technologies for Farmers
"Technology does not stand still, and we must adapt to new conditions. We anticipate that we will be able to save over a ton of yield per hectare. Drones enable precise delivery of the pesticide to the lower parts of the plant, where pests are most concentrated," adds Oleksandr.
The treatment conducted by Oleksandr and Mykola is just one element of a modern approach to crop protection. They are confident that the integration of innovative solutions, such as Vantacor, combined with DJI drones, has the potential to transform agricultural production in Ukraine.
Final Thoughts: The Path to Success
"Without the implementation of innovations, it is impossible to achieve stable and high yields," notes Mykola.
This case demonstrates how new solutions can impact the efficiency of agricultural production. The implementation of innovations in crop protection allows farmers to preserve yields and improve performance, which is especially relevant in the context of climate change.
Oleksandr and Mykola, through their work in the fields of Sumy region, prove that modern technologies are not just tools but the key to success in the agricultural business.
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