Ignorance does not equal innocence

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Ignorance does not equal innocence –

Caleb O’Neal on NRUP regulations at **MU Southwest Research, Extension & Education Center**

On February 25th from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, approximately 30 agricultural drone operators and industry professionals gathered at the MU Southwest Research, Extension & Education Center in Mt. Vernon, Missouri for an in-depth certification and compliance event: Flying Legal 101 – NRUP Certification & Demo Day.

Hosted by Monarch Drone Solutions, in partnership with MU Extension and Corteva Agriscience, this event focused on preparing Missouri agricultural drone operators for updated NRUP regulations effective January 1, 2025.

If your company has an individual with their commercial license, & "support" personnel who are also involved in mixing and applying the restricted-use pesticides with a drone in Missouri—this applies to you. NRUPs must work under direct supervision of a licensed applicator and follow all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107/137 regulations.

Before we get into it

Can we have a moment for the steak hoagies prepared by Brant Mettler from Corteva? Round. Of. Applause!

In all seriousness, as a small business we appreciate people who wear many hats and we are lucky to call Brant a resource for important information, but also a friend. From all of us, thank you for giving your knowledge…and slaying on the grill. Wheels are turning on ways to continue the conversations opened up today.

While we are on the topic of appreciation, one of the other people on our speed dial list continually impresses us with his knowledge and just downright cool demeanor–Caleb O’Neal from the MU Extension. At this point, we wouldn’t know what our business would look like without having a resource in our toolbox like Caleb. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so that our entire industry in Southern Missouri is not only more educated, but better prepared.

Thank you is also in order for the MU Southwest Research, Extension & Education Center for allowing us to utilize such an incredible space for this event.

So, what exactly is NRUP & why does it matter in 2026?

Missouri now requires Non-Certified Restricted Use Pesticide (NRUP) certification or CORE exams for individuals involved in mixing and applying restricted-use pesticides.

Failure to comply may result in:

License cancellation
Fines
Violation of pesticide laws

Agricultural drones—especially those over 55 lbs and used for spraying—are classified as aircraft, meaning operators must comply with:

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (renew every 24 months)
Drone Registration (Heavier drones (over 55 lbs) require paper-based FAA Part 47 registration)
Class 3 Medical Certificate (Valid for 24–60 months based on age)
FAA 44807 Exemption
FAA Part 137 Certificate
State Pesticide Licensing varies by state (CORE, CATEGORY, NRUP, and AERIAL)

The industry is growing rapidly. Regulations exist to ensure safety, environmental protection, and national accountability. In 2025, these regulations ramped up a notch and while it may seem like yet another thing that is hard to find time to do, trust us, you don’t want to be caught off guard and in violation of laws.

Our take? Just do the right thing and get the training–you might be surprised at all the useful information and helpful tips you learn through being in a room with fellow professionals. We have sprayed over 20,000 acres and we still were pleasantly surprised by all the reminders and new information. Feels good to continue learning about such a rapidly growing industry!

Let’s chat about the lineup

Brant Mettler of Corteva Agriscience – Pasture Herbicide Strategy & Field Recommendations

General Theme: Preparation, scouting, documentation, timing, chemistry, execution.

Brant Mettler of Corteva Agriscience on Strategy and Field Best Practices

Scouting Is Essential

Always lay eyes on the property. Photos are not enough. We are probably the worst offenders when it comes to “metaphorically flying too fast” and it can be tempting to just trust the acreage given or what needs to be sprayed for. Trust but verify. From a time and cost effectiveness standpoint, you will save so much just by doing a little extra effort upfront and your application will be more accurate. Plus, how many of you have been told you are spraying a 200 acre field only to find out, it is actually broken up into 20-30 small fields making you set up and tear down multiple times…and yeah, it wasn’t factored in on the quote. Trust. But. Verify.

Understand customer goals
Identify actual weed species present
Confirm growth stage
Match herbicide chemistry to the target
Verify logistics before committing to a job
Don’t be afraid to say no

Takeaway: Assumptions increase liability. Scouting protects profitability and accuracy.

Chemical Awareness & Label Compliance

This one is one of those things that sounds so obvious…but they put warning labels on products for a reason, not just to show off their fancy font work on the bottle.

It is simple: If PPE is listed on the label, it must be in the truck.

The label is a federal legal document, not fluff.

Takeaway: Compliance begins before takeoff.

Have an Agronomist in Your Pocket

The most seasoned operators regularly consult agronomists and their peers. Our team will forever be believers that we cannot be the expert in everything, but what we can perfect is the art of finding the right people to be in your corner for the things they specialize in. Team work!

Takeaway: Expertise strengthens outcomes and reduces costly mistakes.

Caleb O’Neal of MU Extension–Missouri Regulations & NRUP Compliance

Theme: Safety, safety, safety.

Safe words...signal words…pay attention. There’s someone out there who made people write the warning labels, make sure that someone isn’t on your team.

Missouri-Specific Rules (Effective January 1, 2025)

Key rules for NRUP drone spraying in Missouri for 2026:

Mandatory Licensing: Anyone using Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) via drone, who is not a certified applicator, must hold an NRUP license.
Training Requirements: NRUP licenses are valid for one year if obtained via training, or up to 3 years if obtained by passing the CORE exam.
Direct Supervision: NRUPs must operate under the direct supervision of a Certified Commercial Applicator, Certified Noncommercial Applicator, or Certified Public Operator.
Chemical Restrictions: These rules apply to any tank mix containing RUPs, such as atrazine or common pyrethroid insecticides.
Operational Rules: Drone sprayers must ensure the pesticide is approved for aerial application and comply with all FAA airworthiness and Part 137 operator regulations.
Privacy & Surveillance: Missouri law prohibits using drones for surveillance of individuals, property, or farms without consent.

Resources and Good Reminders:

A great resource to regularly check before spraying in an area: EPA Endangered Species Protection Bulletins Live.
When going to dispose of chemical jugs, triple-rinse containers and cut out the bottom before disposal.
Maintain proper chemical storage (well ventilated space, concrete floors, labels visible).
Communicate proactively with your local fire department regarding stored chemicals so they are best prepared in the event of an emergency. Think of this like an occupancy number posted in a restaurant. If that restaurant had to evacuate for a fire, the firefighters would be able to know a rough count of people inside the building. Same for chemicals. In the event of an emergency or fire, they know what chemicals are inside they will have to face.
Provide proper PPE to your team and accessible labels on-site.
Additionally, a properly commercially licensed individual (such as Dakota Crow of Monarch Drone Solutions) must be within 60 miles or 60 minutes of the team operating under their NRUP licenses, depending on the situation.

Takeaway: Risk mitigation is proactive, not reactive.

The “Why” Behind Drone & NRUP Regulations

Airspace Safety

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
Maximum 400 ft AGL
Yield to manned aircraft

These prevent collisions with crop dusters, power lines, and other aircraft.

Environmental Protection

Regulations reduce:

Chemical drift
Waterway contamination
Off-target application

Precision matters—drones are “flying tractors,” not toys.

National Security & Data Privacy

Remote ID requirements allow accountability and tracking.

Agricultural data equals food security—and food security equals national security.

BYOD TIME

BRING YOUR OWN DRONE FIELD TEST PORTION OF THE DAY

“There are so many variables when flying and applying–wind, temps, speed, product etc. For each applicator, knowing their equipment in each of these conditions is vital. Making these resources available doubles down on precision and takes away the guessing game and gut hunches.” –Dakota Crow, Monarch Drone Solutions

The day wrapped up with a literal field day. Folks brought their own drone out which gave a chance for everyone to better understand their own equipment. By using receipt and water soluble paper, we were able to understand our customers drones swath width and coverage patterns at various rates, speeds and heights. What’s best? Giving clients the easy to use tools to do this testing on their own fields and be better informed applicators.

Want to try this at home? Here’s what you need: 50–100’ of 1x4 lumber boards, rubber bands to hold down receipt paper and a measuring tape. Don’t forget a big orange cone that marks the center point.

Enjoy our (effective) redneck swath testing set up

Final Deduction

Agricultural drones are powerful tools. But professionalism requires preparation.

Professional ag drone operations are defined by:

Preparation
Documentation
Chemical knowledge
Safety discipline
Regulatory compliance

Flying Legal 101 reinforced one thing clearly:

The future of agricultural drone spraying in Missouri belongs to those who operate legally and professionally.

If your team needs NRUP certification guidance or operational compliance support, contact Monarch Drone Solutions.

More conversations to come. Stay tuned.

Thank You

A big thank-you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day a success.

Stay tuned by joining our email list or Facebook page for the latest info and upcoming demonstration schedule.

Follow our blog and social channels for updates on test results, new drone integrations, and upcoming events.

Flying Legal 101: Missouri NRUP Certification & 2026 Ag Drone Regulations Explained