Episode
From Four Wheelers to Drones: 25+ Years Spraying Rangeland in Oregon | The DroneOn Show Ep 46
- Podcast
- The DroneOn Show
- Published
- May 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3742
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://the-droneon-show.castos.com/episodes/bear-uav
Actions
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Summary
In this DroneOn Show episode from the Spray Drone End User Conference, Mike sits down with Dave and Jared from Bear UAV / Branch Enterprise in Eastern Oregon. They share how they started in custom application back in 1999 after a tough year in potatoes and onions, evolving from four-wheelers and pickups with hand wands to drones in 2017. The conversation covers the realities of rangeland and noxious weed spraying, post-fire habitat restoration, government contracts, and why they prefer XAG (Zagg) platforms for their spraying quality despite occasional software/connectivity quirks. They discuss the massive difference between Eastern and Western Oregon, the challenges of heavy-lift regulations, supporting older drones, and why relationships and doing the job right matter more than hype in the drone industry. Honest talk from experienced custom applicators on regulations, farmer perceptions, and the future of drones in tough Western terrain.