Invasive species like mesquite and prickly pear pose ongoing challenges for landowners in the Southern United States. Traditional vegetation control methods are often expensive, labor intensive, and harmful to the environment. Innovative drone spraying provides a more efficient and precise alternative, and Fair Lifts is at the forefront with its advanced XAG P150 agriculture drones.
Why Target Mesquite and Prickly Pear?
Bright yellow flowers on prickly Pear Cactus in the summer on rural country Texas road, Austin, Texas
Mesquite trees and prickly pear cacti quickly dominate rangelands, reducing livestock forage, degrading soil, and outcompeting native plants. Their rapid spread makes them especially troublesome in Texas, where they impact millions of acres. Mesquite alone covers over 76 million acres in the state, while prickly pear continues spreading across central and south Texas, particularly in overgrazed or disturbed lands.
Without proper management, these invasives can severely diminish land productivity. For ranchers and land managers, early herbicide treatment is often the best solution. However, ground rigs and crop dusters can cause soil compaction, overspray, or excessive drift. This is where drone technology shines.
Precision Herbicide Application with Drones
A Fair Lifts’ XAG P100 Pro HP applying herbicide
Drone spraying delivers unmatched accuracy when treating hard to reach or sensitive areas. Flying low and steadily, agricultural drones ensure herbicides only hit their targets, reducing environmental impact and chemical use. Drones also remove the need for workers to navigate hazardous terrain, improving safety and efficiency.
Fair Lifts’ expert UAV team uses intelligent flight planning software and GPS guided systems to ensure thorough, even coverage. This allows for customized applications based on plant density, terrain, and wind conditions.
The XAG P150: Advanced Drone Technology
The cornerstone of Fair Lifts’ service is the XAG P150, a cutting edge UAV built for heavy duty agricultural work. With a rugged design and AI powered controls, the P150 excels in the tough brushland environments where mesquite and prickly pear thrive.
XAG P150 Specifications:
- Tank Capacity: 40 liters (10.56 gallons)
- Spray Width: Up to 10 meters (32.8 feet)
- Flow Rate: Up to 12 L/min (3.17 gal/min)
- Flight Time: About 15 to 20 minutes per battery set under load
- RTK Navigation: Sub centimeter accuracy for precise spraying
- Obstacle Avoidance: Real time 3D radar and visual sensors
- Swappable Payloads: Sprayer, spreader, or imaging modules
With multiple P150 drones working together, Fair Lifts can cover large areas swiftly, revolutionizing land reclamation and invasive species control. The modular design also enables quick tank refills and battery swaps, minimizing downtime.
Herbicide Options for Targeted Control
Mesquite Tree
Depending on the severity of mesquite or prickly pear infestations, Fair Lifts uses herbicides like triclopyr, tebuthiuron, picloram, or glyphosate based mixes. These are applied at precise rates following agricultural extension guidelines and EPA standards.
Mesquite responds best to treatment in late spring to early summer when actively growing. Prickly pear often needs spot applications or higher volume coverage to penetrate thick pads. Our operators adjust flow rates and nozzles for optimal droplet size and spray patterns.
Advantages Over Traditional Spraying
Drone spraying offers key benefits for brush management:
- Less Chemical Waste: Precise targeting reduces herbicide use
- Lower Labor Costs: Eliminates ground crews and manned aircraft
- Environmental Safety: Reduces drift and runoff
- Quick Deployment: Ready within hours, not days
- Remote Access: Works in thick brush, steep slopes, or wet areas
Fair Lifts: Leaders in Agricultural Drone Services
we harness the power of drones to offer a suite of services tailored to modern agricultural needs.
Fair Lifts is a trusted provider of drone based vegetation management in the southern U.S. With a fleet of XAG P150 drones and FAA certified pilots, we specialize in herbicide applications for ranches, right of way maintenance, and land reclamation. Our goal is to deliver smarter, safer, and more sustainable vegetation control through advanced drone technology.
Whether facing scattered regrowth or dense infestations, we create tailored treatment plans to meet your property needs. Partnering with Fair Lifts gives landowners a scalable, cost effective solution to reclaim rangelands from invasive brush.
Start Your Drone Spraying Project Today
Ready to combat mesquite and prickly pear with innovative drone spraying? Contact the Fair Lifts UAV team today for expert advice, site assessments, and turnkey spraying services using our XAG P150 drones.
Call us at 1-800-318-8940 or visit our contact page to begin your project.