For the first time in Hungary, an insecticide can be delivered by drone

By: STA Date: 2023. 08. 15. 09:30

The first plant protection agent in Hungary is available, which can be applied by unmanned aerial vehicle: the license extension was made for the acetamiprid insecticide Mospilan 20 SG. The product can be used in cherries, sour cherries and walnuts by spraying with a drone, with which growers can protect themselves against the cherry fly and the western nut borer. All in all, with the issuance of the license for the first product, all obstacles to drone spraying being carried out in accordance with the law have been removed.

(Photo: Pixabay)

Nevertheless, we remind those concerned that the drone used must still have a type rating for legal activity, and the drone pilot must also be listed in the drone pilot register kept by Nébih. We also draw attention to the fact that drone spraying is still classified as aerial plant protection, so it can only be carried out under the supervision of a plant doctor. Furthermore, before starting the activity, a permit must be requested from the plant and soil protection department of the regionally competent county government office.

The Mospilan 20 SG insecticide can be sprayed in combination with Combi-protec baits and insecticide, effect-enhancing auxiliary material

In addition to the presence of the approved agent, it is of course extremely important to strictly comply with other occupational safety regulations. The unmanned aerial vehicle can fly at a maximum height of 2 meters above the culture. The maximum permissible flight speed of the drone is 15 km/h. During spraying, it must also be ensured that the diameter of the spray juice droplets falling on the culture to be treated is at least 200 µm according to 50% volume. The protective distance to be kept from the treated area is 20 meters. Before starting the work, warning signs with the following inscription must be placed on the edge of the treated area and the associated protective strip: “Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) spraying is taking place in this area, entering the area is dangerous and prohibited!”. Nébih draws the attention of plant protection managers, plant protection product users and applicators to the fact that the classification of the product’s traffic category – taking into account the harmonized classification of the active ingredient – has changed.

Nébih