Why Growers Are Using Dropcopter

On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer why so many growers are using Dropcopter to optimize and supplement their pollination processes. Looking more closely, there are a lot of nuances with certain crops and very targeted bloom windows. Here are the main benefits of Dropcopter and how they can optimize and increase your orchard yields. 

Increase the efficiency of bee visits: The timing of when crops produce pollen and when they are receptive to pollen can differ within and between individuals.  Orchards are typically planted to have intentional overlap in varieties that produce abundant pollen (pollinizers) and varieties that are usually higher value and don't produce as much pollen (for example, nonpareil almonds). Although orchards are originally planted so that pollinizers and the higher-value variety bloom at the same time, this phenology can fall out of sync over time and make less pollen available at bloom time. Dropcopter ensures that the right pollen is available when high-value crops are in their fullest bloom.

Micro-environments within an orchard: Bee flight hours and patterns are an important determinant of pollination service. Due to topography or varietal differences, bees may be less likely to visit certain sections of an orchard. Dropcopter can help to keep these sections producing well, bringing pollen directly to the crops that don't receive much bee visitation.

Mechanical pollination: Some crops are pollinated by machine or by hand, like date palm, or conifer trees for improved seed production.  Dropcopter provides a fast, scalable and efficient solution to these crops that are typically anthropogenically pollinated.

Crop load management: Dropcopter can help both short and long term efforts for bi-annual bearing crops by bolstering fruit set during low producing years, which may reduce over-setting in the next year. Dropcopter provides the potential to be selective during thinning efforts rather than wishing there was a more even distribution of fruits on the tree.

Dropcopter brings technology and growing experience to the table with the diverse backgrounds of its team members. A lot of our first-time growers utilized our services as a way to supplement their bee pollination either because of hard-to-pollinate crops or delivery of a lower number of beehives from their providers. 

You can reach out to Dropcopter with any pollination or drone questions anytime!