June 12, 2024

We pulled Ethan Moore, our UAV Program Manager, aside and bent his ear regarding support for small farmers using drone technology. The following is an overview of that conversation.  

The agricultural landscape is on the cusp of a technological revolution, with drones taking center stage. Specialized drones support the yields of small farmers in two significant ways: pesticide dispersal and data collection.   

Drones and Pesticides   

One of the most compelling benefits of drone integration is the ability to apply pesticides with pinpoint precision without harming the harvest. Unlike crop dusters that blanket fields from high altitudes and ground rigs that compact the soil and crush produce, drones can fly lower, ensuring the chemicals reach the target without overly disturbing the vegetation. This targeted approach translates to several advantages.   

• Minimizes environmental impact by reducing pesticide runoff into waterways and eliminating overspray that can harm beneficial insects and wildlife. [1]  
• Pesticides can breach the canopy to protect the more insulated lower leaves from fungus rot. [2] 
• It reduces waste, potentially lowering farmers’ costs, and is a more sustainable agricultural approach. [3] 
• Enhanced accuracy in dispersal significantly reduces the risk of off-target spray or off-target drift, ensuring that specific crop-rated pesticides are applied precisely where intended. This mitigates the risk of applying chemicals to unintended crops and decreases the likelihood of incurring substantial fines and facing increased insurance premiums. [4]   
• Drones significantly reduce the danger to pilots, especially those who must fly beneath power lines that may hover above many fields. [5] 
• Significantly reduces the danger to the pilots, especially those who must fly beneath power lines that may hover above many fields.  

Drones for farms of all shapes  

The next advantage drones offer is their suitability for smaller farms. Crop dusters often have minimum acreage requirements that leave small-scale growers without options. Additionally, these planes are most effective above flat, wide-open fields. This means the many small, irregularly shaped fields are not very attractive to pilots who rely on nearby airports to load and reload their chemical payloads and use more fuel to maneuver. This poses no problems for drone operators who can easily map a grided path over any shaped fields, ensuring that even niche or specialty farms can benefit from the advantages of aerial application.  

 Pilots need not worry, though. Compared to planes, drones have much shorter flight times and can hold a much smaller amount of chemicals during each run, so large farms will continue to rely on crop dusters and other conventional methods.    

Drones Gathering Data  

Another significant advantage of drones lies in their ability to gather valuable data. Equipped with advanced sensors, drones can transform into sophisticated flying scouts, monitoring crop health in real time. Farmers can gain insights into plant stress levels, nutrient deficiencies, and even identify early signs of pest infestations. This wealth of information allows them to make informed decisions about resource allocation. Farmers can target fertilizer and pesticide application only to areas that need it, potentially leading to higher yields and reduced overall costs. [6]

 The future of drone integration in agriculture shines with promise. With each technological advancement, scalable solutions for agricultural operations are becoming more attainable. Although ongoing research is essential to fully grasp drone integration’s long-term economic advantages and environmental contributions, these efforts are paving the way for widespread adoption. This promising technology holds the potential to revolutionize agriculture, underlining the importance of a comprehensive understanding of its impact for its full potential to be realized.

Interested in integrating drones in your agricultural business? We can help. Reach out to our Aerospace Department today!