Three Specialized Learning Tracks
Choose your path to drone mastery with color-coded sessions designed for your operations.
Raise Your View.
Grow Your Farm.
Western Canada’s premier three-day summit where producers, contractors and regulators learn, demo and connect around drone-powered agriculture.
April 7-9, 2026
Three-Day Schedule
Interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking across three specialized tracks.
Session Accreditation
CEU – Continuing Education Unit
CCA – Certified Crop Advisor
PA – Pesticide Applicator
Day 1 – Tuesday
Morning | Plenary Sessions
45 minutes each
7:30 – 8:00
Registration & Breakfast
08:00 – 08:45
Plenary
Plenary #1: Welcome to Ag Drone Summit
Canadian Agricultural Drone Association
We kick off the Ag Drone Summit with a fast-paced, light-hearted look at how drones are transforming Canadian agriculture. The founding directors of CADA share rapid-fire stories from their own experience and networks—covering spraying, seeding, scouting, and far beyond. Expect laughter, insight, and an inspiring glimpse of how this technology is reshaping fields and pastures across the country.
08:45 – 9:45
Plenary
Plenary #2: Lessons from the Leading Edge: A Compendium of Spray Drone Research
Dr. Steve Li, Auburn University
CEU | CCA | PA
As founder of the Spray Drone End-User Conference, Dr. Steve Li has led the conversation on agricultural drone application across the U.S. In this session, he’ll share highlights from Auburn University’s multi-year research on drone spraying—covering performance, drift, and adoption trends. He’ll also touch on opportunities for collaboration between U.S. and Canadian researchers, helping both countries advance strong, complementary conference programs.
9:30 – 10:00
30 min Break – Tradeshow Open
10:15 – 11:15
Plenary
Plenary #3: Eyes in the Sky, Boots on the Ground
Dr. Steve Shirtliffe & Jamie Otterson, University of Saskatchewan
CEU | CCA
Crop imagery from drones and satellites now provides breeders, agronomists, and farmers with powerful tools for crop management and decision-making. University research shows how UAVs and machine learning can be used for scouting, yield prediction, disease risk, and mapping weeds like kochia. There is progress toward wall-to-wall mapping of western Canada at 10m resolution to better understand spatial variability in yield and profitability.
11:15 – 12:15
Plenary
Plenary #4: Update on Spray Drone Regulations
Ross Breckels, Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Angela Fawcett, Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Application System Task Force
PA
Important updates to Canada’s drone regulations last November introduced the new Medium RPAS category, creating meaningful opportunity for agricultural operators working in sparsely populated areas. Ian will explain what these changes mean in clear, practical terms — highlighting where greater operational flexibility now exists and what pilots need to know to obtain or maintain certification. This session is about clarity, confidence, and making the most of new opportunities in Canada’s evolving drone framework.
12:00 – 1:15
Lunch & Tradeshow
Afternoon | Breakout Speakers
60 minutes
1:30 – 2:30
Speakers
A5: The Real Breeze on Drone Spraying
Dr. Tom Wolf, Agrimetrix Research
PA
Drones are an exciting new way to apply agricultural inputs. Tom will review results of recent performance testing in Canada and abroad, focusing on drone performance. From wind direction, swath width and uniformity to flying height and speed, Tom will break down the research and provide insight into the future of drone spraying.
1:30 – 2:30
Speakers
B5: Drones out East: Maritime Use-Cases
Charlie Turcotte, Valley Precision Ag
Robert Overmars, Overview Farms
The Atlantic Provinces don’t have aerial labels for pesticides, but several of their agricultural sectors have extremely compelling uses-cases for the new type of aerial application. A panel will present a highly specialized use case for drones: precision management of Christmas tree plantations. The talk will cover imaging, foliar spraying, and how customers have optimized operations for tree height, shape, and disease management using aerial tools.
2:30 – 3:30
Speakers
A6: Advancing Wild Blueberry Production with Drone and Precision Technologies
Dr. Travis Esau, Dalhousie University
Chloe Toombs, Dalhousie University
CEU | CCA
This session explores how emerging drone and imaging technologies can transform management practices in high-value fruit crops, with a focus on wild blueberries. Recent advances in aerial imaging, data analytics, and variable-rate application systems that enhance plant health monitoring, pest and disease management, and yield optimization will be covered. The session will also highlight ongoing field research examining spray deposition across variable canopies as well as lining sprayer track patterns to harvest losses in commercial fields.
2:30 – 3:30
Speakers
B6: New Aviation Rules, New Opportunities: What Rural Operators Need to Know
Ian Wills, Coastal Drone
This panel discussion will outline current status and examine the prospects for policy and regulatory change pertaining to pesticides. That will include discussion of Health Canada’s proposal PRO2026-01, but also the work of various initiatives conducting research on drift, human exposure, and residues. Discussion will be around current challenges, opportunities for change, and how the agricultural drone community can play a role.
3:30 – 4:00
30 min Break – Tradeshow Open
4:00 – 4:45
Plenary
P5: Seeding the Unreachable: Safety over Extreme Terrain
Jody Stump, McCall Management & Crystal Lake Ranch
Mike Friesen, Pineview Vegetation Management
Two active service providers will discuss the importance of careful mission planning to ensure the success of any drone operation. Both panelists have spent multiple seasons with their spreading drones in some of the most rugged terrain within BC, working in the oil and gas, mining, forestry, and agriculture sectors. The panelists take very different approaches but achieve the same result: effective and safe application despite working in extreme conditions. They will share key factors to consider when mission planning, along with real-life examples illustrating why successful mission planning will equal a successful operation.
05:00 – 06:00
Tradeshow & Party
6:00 – 8:00
Social
Ag Drone Pizza Party
Day 2 – Wednesday
Morning Streams
60 minutes each
8:00 – 9:00
Livestock
A1: Drone Uses in Precision Ranching
Dr. John Church, Thompson Rivers University
This session explores UAV applications in livestock systems, from herd checks to range monitoring. Attendees will learn how thermal and visual imaging can provide timely, practical insights for both animal welfare and pasture management. The talk will expand to other new technologies that will have an impact in beef production, including boluses and virtual fencing.
8:00 – 9:00
Vegetation Management
B1: Getting Certified & Understanding Labels
Lisa Rybchuk, Woodchuk Enterprises
CEU | CCA | PA
Lisa heads a vegetation management and safety training company operating near Carstairs. With over 20 years of experience in the pesticide industry, Lisa specializes in helping people become pesticide applicators. She is a licensed trainer for the Authorized Assistant and Farmer Pesticide programs and is the current president of the Professional Vegetation Managers Association of Alberta.
8:00 – 9:00
Crops & Remote Sensing
C1: Drone Innovation for Seed Certification
Dr. Jan Slaski – Mirabilis Hemp Consulting Ltd
Torey Zachoda – Innotech Alberta
CEU | CCA
Dr. Slaski highlights how cutting-edge drone imaging paired with machine vision and AI can drastically streamline industrial hemp seed field inspections by replacing traditional manual walks with aerial data collection and automated analysis. This approach improves accuracy and efficiency in identifying key plant traits, aiding statistically robust certification decisions. He’ll also touch on how these tools have broader potential across seed certification and crop monitoring applications.
9:00 – 10:00
LIvestock
A2: Hi-Tech Redneck – Grazing Systems
Steve Kenyon, Greener Pastures Ranching
This session explores how extended grazing systems combined with drone seeding of legumes can improve pasture productivity and soil health. Attendees will learn practical strategies for reducing input costs and building resilient grazing operations.
9:00 – 10:00
Vegetation Management
B2: The Drone Business Toolkit: Loans, Leases & Liability
Brad Borle, Hub International
Curtis Gulka, Questor Financial
Understanding what types of units and operations require insurance is important. Discussion will look at the types now available for both imaging and application drones in agriculture. Financing of drones is also becoming a bigger issue as their size increases, this session will look at both leasing and loan options for farmers and drone businesses.
9:00 – 10:00
Crops & Remote Sensing
C2: Imaging for Research & Agronomy
Eric Busch, Channel Systems & LeafBit Agriculture
CEU | CCA
Eric explores how drones equipped with multispectral sensors can be used to collect precise crop performance data. Attendees will learn how spectral imagery reveals plant responses to specialty, precision, and biological fertilizers—providing a more sensitive and scalable alternative to traditional field assessments.
10:00 – 10:30
30 min Break – Tradeshow Open
10:30 – 11:30
Livestock
A3: Feral Hog Control supported by Thermal Drones
Talia Vilalta, University of Calgary
Feral hog populations continue to expand in parts of Alberta, creating serious risks for crops, livestock, and native ecosystems. Talia will share insights from current academic research and field experience, showing how drone-based thermal imaging helps locate and track hogs, improve targeting accuracy, and enhance safety for control crews. Participants will gain practical guidance on interpreting thermal imagery under real-world conditions.
10:30 – 11:30
Vegetation Management
B3: The Importance of Adjuvants for Effective Pesticide Application
Colin Cameron, Land O’Lakes
CEU | PA
Adjuvants are important for improving pesticide deposition, reducing drift, and enhancing overall spray performance. Drawing on wind tunnel, Colin will share comparative data on different products’ impact on droplet size and spray pattern behavior. The session will provide practical guidance to help applicators make informed tank-mix decisions that improve efficacy and environmental stewardship.
10:30 – 11:30
Crops & Remote Sensing
C3: Artificial Intelligence & Spraying
Daniel McCann, Precision.AI
CEU | CCA | PA
This session will examine how artificial intelligence and machine vision can be used to develop advanced weed-speciation algorithms capable of identifying multiple weed species from aerial imagery. Dan will also highlight Precision.AI’s unique powered-parachute RPAS, showing how the platform enables efficient, high-quality data capture to support scalable AI-based weed detection and decision-making.
11:30 – 12:30
Livestock
A4: Pasture in Pixels: Tools for Smarter Grazing Management
Dr. Edward Bork, Novais, Francis Novais, University of Alberta
Matt Francis, Thompson Rivers University
Advances in drone and remote sensing technology are transforming how we monitor and manage rangelands. High-resolution imagery and 3D mapping can now be used to estimate forage biomass, assess grazing impacts, and detect invasive species across large landscapes with precision. This session will explore how UAV-based monitoring links directly to better grazing decisions, carbon accounting, and long-term rangeland sustainability.
11:30 – 12:30
Vegetation Management
B4: Brush Control Pesticide Research
Dr. Kris Guenette, Corteva Agriscience
PA
Drawing from recent field trials and on-the-ground experience, Kris will explore current research efforts toward how drones could be used in the future of range and forage weed management. The presentation will include the details of the Grazon XRT label for industrial applications and a summary of ongoing research toward agricultural pasture labels.
11:30 – 12:30
Crops & Remote Sensing
C4: Drone & GIS Workflows
Jesse Lawrence, Good Lands Environmental & Broken Arrow Consulting
CEU | CCA
Jesse will demonstrate how freely available remote sensing data—such as NDVI and 1-meter LiDAR—can be used to delineate simple agricultural management zones. He’ll then outline a workflow for generating UAV waypoint missions that target random points within those zones, allowing easy aerial inspection to complement traditional field scouting and ground-truthing.
12:00 – 01:15
Lunch & Tradeshow
Afternoon | Outdoor Demonstrations
30 minutes each
Participants will make their way to the Big Valley Jamboree Campground, which turns into our 200-acre demo area for the afternoon. Buses will be available, and coffee/refreshments will be available at the grounds.
1:30 – 2:00
Demo
OS-1: The Many Uses for Ag Drones
Live demonstration of methods used to measure spray swath width and evaluate droplet deposition patterns from agricultural spray drones.
2:00 – 2:30
Demo
OS-2A: Swath Width & Deposition Testing
Live demonstration of methods used to measure spray swath width and evaluate droplet deposition patterns from agricultural spray drones.
2:00 – 2:30
Demo
OS-2B: Cattle Sensors: Zoom & Thermal
How zoom and thermal drone cameras compare for locating, monitoring, and assessing cattle in pasture environments.
We’ll compare the zoom levels for reading ear tags too.
2:30 – 3:00
Demo
OS-3A: Swath Width & Deposition Testing
Live demonstration of methods used to measure spray swath width and evaluate droplet deposition patterns from agricultural spray drones.
2:30 – 3:00
Demo
OS-3B: Crop Mapping 101
For those who haven’t mapped with drones before, this will be a first introduction to the mapping process including flight planning, data capture, and creation of actionable field maps.
3:00 – 3:30
Demo
OS-4: Refill System Show & Shine (and Coffee Break)
Some exhibitors will undoubtedly have commercial trailers available for you to inspect throughout the show. But in Canada, the vast majority of operators are from a farm that already has many of the refill system’s components – so they build their own. Several farmers will be presenting their current refill system for 2026, with information on what worked well for them, and what they’ve already changed because it didn’t work. Farmers sharing ideas with farmers.
This time-slot will also serve as networking time with coffee/refreshments
3:30 – 4:00
Demo
OS-5A: Calibrating Granular / Seed Spreaders
Demonstration of practical methods for calibrating drone-based granular and seed spreading systems to achieve accurate application rates and even distribution.
3:30 – 4:00
Demo
OS-5B: Product Demos (2 x 15 min)
Two exhibitors each present a short live demonstration of their drone-related products or technologies in field conditions. Exhibitors TBD
4:00 – 4:30
Demo
OS-6A: Product Demos (2 x 15 min)
Two exhibitors each present a short live demonstration of their drone-related products or technologies in field conditions.
4:00 – 4:30
Demo
OS-6B: RTK in the Field: Why & How?
This demonstration explains why RTK positioning matters for agricultural drones and shows how base stations and corrections are used to achieve centimeter-level accuracy in the field.
4:30 – 5:00
Demo
OS-7A: Lifting System Demo
Demonstration of a drone-based lifting system designed to carry and place payloads safely and precisely in agricultural or remote environments.
4:30 – 5:00
Demo
OS-7B: Product Demos (2 x 15 min)
Two exhibitors each present a short live demonstration of their drone-related products or technologies in field conditions.
*Outdoor demonstration details will be updated as more information is available
03:30 – 04:00
Tradeshow Open
4:45 – 5:00
P6: Closing Remarks
Markus Weber, Canadian Agricultural Drone Association
Closing remarks and invitation to the CADA AGM, information on the workshop options for day three.
5:00 – 6:00
CADA Annual General Meeting
Day 3 – Thursday
Workshops (Optional)
All-day
08:00 – 4:00
Workshop
Option A: Authorized Assistant Pesticide Certification
Lisa Rybchuk, Woodchuk Enterprises
PA
This one-day course prepares participants to perform pesticide applications without requiring daily onsite supervision of a Certified Pesticide Applicator. The content covers the Core chapter of the Pesticide Applicator Home study course. The core principles are the same in all provinces, so the content will be applicable to anyone eventually wanting to get certified to apply pesticides in any province. Those from Alberta can receive the Authorized Assistant Certificate after passing an exam an completing a checklist with their employer afterward.
08:00 – 4:00
Workshop
Option B: Achieving Accuracy – Mapping for Spraying Drones
Ryan Hughes, PIX4Dfields
Markus Weber, LandView Drones
CEU | CCA
Ryan Hughes is the Senior Technical Trainer and Instructional Designer at Pix4D. In this hands-on course assisted by Markus Weber and the team at LandView Drones, participants will learn the details of using Pix4Dfields software with mapping drones to create boundaries for spraying drones. This one-day masterclass will also include the process for creating variable-rate prescriptions for application both by drone or ground sprayer. Topics will include aerial mapping best practices, GSD, imagery processing, satellite data, annotations, obstacle digitization, vegetation indices, and weed detection.
08:00 – 4:00
Workshop
Option C: Precision Ranching Workshop
Dr. John Church, Thompson Rivers University
This hands-on workshop will provide information on implementing virtual fencing technology, autonomous drone mapping, and other emerging technologies for beef and real-world ranch use cases. Learn how cutting-edge tools such as drone-based remote sensing, GPS livestock tracking, and wireless virtual fencing are transforming livestock management and rangeland stewardship. With these advancements, ranchers can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability while addressing critical challenges in modern agriculture. Whether you’re a student, rancher, farmer, or other interested community members, this workshop will equip you with practical skills to integrate these innovations into real-world farming and ranching practices.