Guidance for applying agrichemicals and VTAs using unmanned aircraft

The information on this page is guidance for drone operators applying agrichemicals and vertebrate toxic agents (VTAs). It’s designed to help you navigate the rules, training, and certification requirements so you can conduct safe and secure operations.

Unmanned aircraft agricultural operations are generally considered to be any operation conducted for the purpose of dispensing any substance that either promotes or inhibits plant or animal life. These operations generally fall into one of the following three categories:

• aerial spraying, using aircraft to spray liquid chemicals over land
• aerial topdressing, using aircraft to drop solid products like fertiliser onto farmland
• aerial application of VTA, using aircraft to spread poison baits to control pests.

Read the guidance: Application of agrichemicals and Vertebrate Toxic Agents (VTA) using unmanned aircraft [PDF 530 KB]