Corteva drone in a farm field.

Photo credit: EMILI

Corteva Spray Drone Trial

Alberta Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan

Project Overview

AIVA is collaborating with Corteva to validate spray drone applications. This project explores the efficacy of spray drone fungicide application relative to ground-based application targeting Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (White Mold) in canola and soybean.

Two key research questions will be addressed:

  1. Bioequivalence: Does Viatude (Picoxystrobin + Prothioconazole) applied by spray drone deliver similar efficacy compared with ground-based (tractor sprayer) application?
  2. Water Volume Sensitivity: Does Viatude maintain efficacy when applied using low water volume drones?

Project Attributes

Innovation Category: Spray drone research 

Targeted Users of the Innovation: Spray drone operators 

Locations: Area X.O (Ontario), EMILI (Manitoba), Innovation Farms Ontario (Ontario), Olds College (Alberta) 

Crops: Canola and Soybean varieties susceptible to White Mold located in areas with historically high disease pressure. 

Project Activities

  • Fungicide treatment application: using a DJI T50 spray drone and conventional ground-based sprayers
  • Disease Rating: Sclerotinia incidence/severity ratings assessed near maturity