Slug pellets by drone
Ferric phosphate slug pellets are one of the few plant protection products currently approved for drone application in the UK. AutoSpray Systems Ltd was the first operator to receive CAA acceptance for commercial drone slug pellet application, and ASPN pilots flying under that authorisation can apply Sluxx HP and similar onto OSR seedlings, post-drilling wheat and salads.
If a pilot isn't flying under AutoSpray's umbrella, they can't legally do this job. ASPN is currently the only commercial route in the UK.
How it differs from a quad applicator
- Wet ground, no problem. No wheel marks, no compaction, no waiting for the field to dry.
- Standing crop access. No bruising, no driving through the canopy.
- Run-off and NVZ situations. Avoids tracking near watercourses.
- Throughput. Around 10 to 15 hectares an hour using the XAG P100 Pro with the RevoCast spreader.
Where it doesn't win: clean, dry, accessible stubble where a Stocks-mounted quad can sail through at a much lower per-hectare cost.
Pricing
Sluxx HP product costs around £17 to £22 per hectare at typical rates. Drone application is priced per job — based on area, access and how soon you need it. Tell us about your field and we'll come back with a firm number.
Common questions
Is this actually legal? Yes — but only via an operator working under AutoSpray Systems Ltd's authorisation. AutoSpray received CAA acceptance for the application during 2024. Other drone operators without that umbrella cannot legally do this job in the UK at the moment.
What pellets can be applied? Ferric phosphate-based pellets (Sluxx HP and similar). Metaldehyde is not part of this approval.