Key Takeaways
- SweetWater Technologies has launched DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED, an EPA-registered plant growth regulator (PGR).
- The product provides up to 30 days of abiotic stress resistance, doubling the standard two-week protection.
- When integrated with SweetWater Technologies’ two-pass drone application, protection can extend to 60 days.
- DRONEZONE RECHARGED activates systemic acquired resistance (SAR) using salicylic acid.
- Designed to enhance resilience and optimize ROI, the product is positioned for wide-scale use in row crops.
DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED: A New Approach to Crop Protection
SweetWater Technologies has unveiled DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED, an EPA-registered plant growth regulator (PGR) formulated to enhance abiotic stress resistance in crops. The product extends the standard stress mitigation period from two weeks to 30 days, providing longer-lasting protection against environmental pressures.
According to Chad Gripp, owner of SweetWater Technologies, incorporating DRONEZONE RECHARGED into the company’s two-pass drone application program allows growers to extend plant defense to 60 days, improving efficiency and yield fortification.
“With DRONEZONE RECHARGED, farmers now have a new level of defense to protect their investments in yield during the critically important late crop growth stages,” said Gripp.
Longer Defense Against Abiotic Stress
Enhancing Plant Resilience
Designed for use on a variety of crops, DRONEZONE RECHARGED is intended to stimulate a plant’s natural defense system during key vegetative growth stages through maturity. This extended stress resistance supports farmers in protecting their crops from environmental fluctuations while maintaining operational efficiency.
“Offense may win games, but defense wins championships, and DRONEZONE RECHARGED enables farmers to do just that: win the growing season by defending their investments from costly, yield-robbing stressors in a crop’s reproductive growth stages,” Gripp stated.
Key Ingredients and Mode of Action
Activating Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR)
DRONEZONE RECHARGED contains salicylic acid, a compound known to trigger systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in plants. This biochemical process strengthens a plant’s ability to combat various stressors, including disease pathogens and environmental pressures.
Boosting Growth from Within
Beyond stress resistance, DRONEZONE RECHARGED also contains systemic compounds that promote plant vigor and growth from the inside out. The product is specifically formulated for drone application, allowing for precise, ultra-low volume delivery that supports crop health and yield optimization.
“By enhancing a plant’s natural ability to withstand stress from weather and other pressures, we’re empowering growers to achieve better, more consistent results, even in challenging conditions,” Gripp explained.
Scalability and Industry Applications
Adoption Across Millions of Acres
Gripp, a fifth-generation Illinois farmer with over two decades of experience in custom agricultural applications, believes DRONEZONE RECHARGED can benefit millions of crop acres across the United States.
A Fit for Drone-Applied Crop Management
As drone technology gains traction in agriculture, products like DRONEZONE RECHARGED offer efficient, scalable solutions for row crop growers looking to enhance productivity and optimize ROI.
“Applying it will enable farmers to protect the investments they make in every acre to get the best crop yield and quality they can, year-in and year-out,” Gripp concluded.
