7 minute read
NEW PRODUCTS
First U.S. T-30 Drone Approved for Rantizo
Approval adds above-55-pound drone option for ag retailers and custom applicators
Precision ag tech company Rantizo announces that the company has become the first approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for operation of the DJI Agras T-30 drone for agricultural applications. The announcement comes highly anticipated, as the T-30 drone was launched in 2021 but could not be operated due to the FAA regulation only allowing the use of drones 55 pounds or lighter. With the exemptions received, Rantizo is the first and only company in the country with necessary approvals to operate the drone on a commercial scale. “This new platform is more than just a larger drone,” says Beau Brown, Rantizo special projects manager. “The DJI T-30 represents a threegeneration jump in technological advancements for aerial drone sprayers, such as new avionics, obstacle avoidance and more intelligent field management.” “These tools,” Brown adds, “combined with Rantizo’s expertise and support, will ensure our contractors and pilots continue to be the most successful in the drone application industry.” Considered the most productive drone spraying tool on the market, the T-30 comes with a bigger tank that, fully loaded, weighs up to 169 pounds. Yet the drone can fit in the back of the average truck bed. “We’ve been seeing demand for bigger drones since day one,” says Emily Carlson, Rantizo marketing manager. “However, we are calculated in what products we offer within our system for drone applications and when we release them.” “Headed into the 2022 season,” Carlson notes, “our approvals for use of the T-30 will be a game changer for both Rantizo contractors and the growers they serve.” For farmers, drones supply another tool in the toolbox of options to increase efficiency in the realm of precision agriculture. Benefits of on-farm drone usage include: • Little to no crop damage when compared to conventional sprayers • Major cost savings on inputs with spot-spraying capability • Improved soil health due to no
machinery-caused soil compaction • More versatility in application, less reliance on weather due to precise application • Additional method of cover crop broadcast seeding Rantizo offers a turnkey system for drone application designed to make in-field applications such as pesticide application or the broadcast application of cover crops simple, efficient, safe and legal. The Rantizo system includes drone equipment, but more importantly, a streamlined path to use it in the field, with peace of mind on regulations and legalities for those providing custom drone application services. “Ag retailers want to stay on the cutting edge,” explains Sam Pendleton, Rantizo director of sales. “It’s what their customers expect. But at the same time, they have to consider how drone applications could work in their operation.” “Whether that’s covering the awkward acres to make their ground rigs more efficient, adding a more precise option to their aerial fleet or simply gaining the ability to target
site-specific areas to provide costeffective options to their customers,” Pendleton says. “Rantizo has been committed to providing those retailers with a system designed to do all of that for them in a safe and legal way,” he remarks. “The addition of the T-30 is only going to enhance those benefits.” To date, Rantizo’s system has been primarily focused around the 10 Liter DJI Agras MG-1P. The Iowa City-based startup added proprietary technology such as an Upgrade Kit and additional waivers for multi-drone swarming to optimize productivity in the field. The addition of a larger drone with more payload capacity, speed and use-case functionality will bring drone application viability across a larger spectrum into the 2022 season. “As a company, we have developed a culture around product development that originates from what the customer wants,” says Rantizo Chief Executive Officer Michael Ott.
TWO CUSTOMER SEGMENTS
“In our case,” Ott notes, “we have two customer segments to consider: our network of contractors who want the most productive drone application system available to provide services, and their farmer customers who want both precision and cost-effective options for in-field applications.” “Whether we tackle this with multiple drones or larger drones, the result is a win-win for both,” he says, “and that’s always what we keep at the forefront. Our approvals for the T-30 are just the next step in the evolution of where drone applications are headed for ag.” Rantizo received initial approvals for single drone spraying operations from the FAA in July of 2019. At that time, the company became the first and only approved for drone spraying in the state of Iowa. In July 2020, Rantizo became the first approved for three-drone swarming nationwide. Now, with approvals for operation of the T-30, the company that is just shy of four years old continues a path of fast-paced innovation. With the latest approvals, Rantizo now has the green light to offer the T-30 drone for sale. “We could have put the T-30 up on our website with a ‘buy now’ button several months ago, and I’m confident we would have sold out,” Pendleton shares. “The demand has been there,” he assures. “But we don’t just sell someone a drone and let them figure out the rest on their own. It doesn’t do the customer any good, and it certainly doesn’t do the industry any favors.” “Now, Rantizo is able to offer the largest, most productive drone on the market to our customers with a clear-cut path to use and profitability they can feel confident in,” Pendleton states. “That’s what sets us apart.” For further information on the Rantizo system, pricing or package options, email info@rantizo.com.
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Brian D Blink,
CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® Wealth Management Advisor 715.610.3232 brian.blink@nm.com brianblink.nm.com
07-1012 © 2022 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual).
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Potatoes USA News
Potatoes Remain a Leading Item on Restaurant Menus
Potatoes have a solid presence on 82.9 percent of restaurant menus in the United States, and Datassential predicts them to expand another 1.6 percent in the next four years. Fast-casual restaurants are projected to experience the most growth of potatoes, 5 percent over the next four years, followed by midscale restaurants. Regional and independent restaurants continue to menu potatoes more often than chains. Lunch menus have experienced a decline in potato offerings over the past four years, pointing to an opportunity for future growth. The top five potato dishes on menus are French fries, mashed potatoes, potato salad, hash browns and baked potatoes. A variety of cuisines use potatoes, including African, as well as steakhouses, burger joints and barbecue places, all of which have over 99 percent penetration. Cuisines with the lowest penetration of potatoes include Japanese, Chinese and coffee/bakery restaurants, all with spuds on fewer than 51 percent of restaurant menus. The top five trending potato dishes include tater drums, breakfast potatoes, curly fries, waffle fries and loaded fries, all showing the strongest growth rates. Potatoes USA commissions the Datassential Menu Trends study. Datassential provides data and market research services for the foodservice industry.
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