The Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech organized the Mid-Atlantic Spray Drone workshop on July 23-24, 2024 in Painter, VA. The workshop highlighted benefits of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also known as aerial drones, emphasizing their role in crop protection and comparing efficacy and economics with traditional spraying methods. Over the two-day workshop, federal regulators, university researchers, industry personnel, and custom pesticide applicators (Figure 1) examined the current status of the technology, and debated drift issues, and management strategies. The workshop was attended by participants from Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum) is the most common weed reported in wheat fields in Virginia. It is a winter annual weed and germinates when day/night temperatures range from 50/41°F to 77/41°F, which coincides with wheat germination. The emergence of this weed can occur both in fall as well as spring seasons. Controlling Italian ryegrass in wheat with herbicides becomes challenging as both are grass species, and limited herbicide options are available, especially when it is herbicide-resistant. In Virginia, Italian ryegrass populations are resistant to ALS-inhibitors (Group 2), and/or ACCase-inhibitors (Group 1) herbicides. Experiences from on-station and on-farm research indicate that postemergence herbicides alone cannot provide complete control of Italian ryegrass. A combination of preemergence and postemergence herbicides ensures effective control of this troublesome weed.

The Accomack and Northampton counties in the Eastern Shore of Virginia produce about 80% of Virginia’s total potato crop (Northampton County, 2023). Keeping the weeds under check is one of most important prerequisites in achieving satisfactory potato yields. Weed infestation and herbicide resistance are continuously haunting the growers owing to the lesser number of viable herbicide options than before. The menace of weeds in the upcoming season depends to a larger extent on the practices being followed over the previous years and can be prevented by certain practices planned well in advance.