Cornell University / CIDA
NY · precision ag research, viticulture drone programs
Cornell University runs extensive drone agriculture research through its Center for Integrated Data Analytics (CIDA) and Digital Agriculture program led by Quirine Ketterings. Includes precision viticulture at the Lake Erie lab in Portland, NY, NDVI crop monitoring and digital agriculture education across New York State.
Operations are based in the Southeast region.
Services offered
Crops serviced
States served (1)
Aerial pesticide licensing in states served
Every state requires a pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement on top of FAA Part 137. The agencies that issue these licenses in Cornell CIDA's service area:
- New York — Any commercial drone spray over New York fields needs Category 11: Aerial Application, issued by New York State DEC.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Verify and resources
Primary-source references for verifying credentials and looking up state-specific rules in Cornell CIDA's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying Cornell University / CIDA runs through three independent checks: Part 107 via the FAA Airmen Inquiry, Part 137 via the issuing FAA Flight Standards office, and the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license via the receiving state's department of agriculture. In New York the state credential is issued by New York State DEC; you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. Pair that with a current chemical-drift COI and the Section 44807 exemption number for due diligence.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region usually breaks down into three lines: (1) included — calibration, GPS-guided flight planning, machine and pilot labor to fly the field, mixing and loading farmer-supplied product, and a Part 170-compliant application record; (2) excluded — the pesticide and any adjuvants, which the farmer supplies; (3) surcharges — long travel, after-hours, difficult terrain or obstruction-heavy fields, and minimum-acreage charges below a stated threshold. Spell out which of those land on your invoice before the operator schedules.