UMass Cranberry Station Gets a Helping Hand from ADM

WAREHAM – The A.D. Makepeace Company cranberry team this week provided aerial support to the UMass Cranberry Station by applying fertilizer on its research bogs via drone, a game-changing tool bringing new efficiency to farming.

This innovative approach offers significant advantages over traditional ground-based application methods. Not only is it more time-efficient, but it also provides a uniform distribution of fertilizer across the entire bog surface, enhancing consistency and crop health.

The ADM team completed the 10.5-acre application in less than an hour. Using their traditional hand-application method, the task would have taken the research team twice as long and required a crew of at least three people.

“It was a pleasure to collaborate with our research partners and showcase how drone technology can streamline operations, improve crop health, and significantly save time,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “Working together with industry partners like the UMass Cranberry Station helps strengthen our agricultural community and advance innovative solutions across the industry.”

The Cranberry Station, located in East Wareham, is a part of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Its mission is to maintain and enhance the economic viability of the Massachusetts cranberry industry through research and outreach, and to serve the public welfare by supporting economic development and protection of the environment.

The 171-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.