I work in agriculture and have been watching more and more farmers and companies using drones for spraying and spreading. They all claim better efficiency and less time. But one thing no one mentions is the amount of time and effort needed to keep the drones going with refills, battery changes, etc.
Here’s an example. The DJI T50 has about 15 minutes max flight time with a 30 amp battery. Some companies claim to spray 7 to 10 hectares per hour at 40L per hectare. But that means around 7 tank refills and 4 battery swaps per hour. Over an 8-hour day, that’s 56 tank refills and 32 battery swaps. Seems like a lot of work for just one drone!
I’m not sure about sprayer drones specifically, but using drones for aerial mapping with multispectral sensors can show the health, nutrients, and water in your fields. This helps you figure out exactly where to spray or fertilize without overdoing it.
For example, you might find only part of the field needs fertilizer, saving money. Or you could spot areas where crops aren’t doing well and act quickly, maybe even prevent major crop loss from disease.
For me, the sprayer drones would be best for small spot treatments rather than covering large areas. Plus, it saves wear on the bigger, costly machines you’d usually need for that work.
You should check out the daily rates for a Cessna pilot.
Seriously though, ag drone operators usually have multiple drones running. They fly closer to the crops, which makes the spraying more efficient and cuts down on costs by needing less liquid.
The efficiency comes from using a lot less chemicals per acre. Most spray drones apply around 2 gallons per acre, while tractors usually apply between 10-20 gallons. So that’s a big savings on chemical costs.
You’re right about the frequent refills, but those aren’t a big issue. The drone’s battery swaps and chemical refills are done right next to the field. You just swap a battery and top it off with chemical—it’s quick.
Drones also reach tricky areas where planes can’t, like odd-shaped fields or areas near trees. And they can fly when the ground’s too wet for tractors.
The main thing holding back drones for farmers is all the regulations. In the US, flying them requires an FAA license, and they also need a state license to spray.
@Marlow
Isn’t the chemical cost the same because it’s the same amount per acre, just more concentrated?
And someone here said farmers buy drones and just have high school kids operate them. Not sure I believe that—the licensing requirements are a lot more intense than that.
Drones are great for tricky spots like hillside vineyards where tractors have trouble with the slopes and cause soil compaction. Plus, drones help make sure every drop counts, which matters a lot when materials are expensive.
You’re thinking about the labor involved, but that’s usually not paid for directly by the farmer. When people say drones are efficient, they usually mean lower time, cost, and chemical use.
Drones are efficient because they don’t need a lot of infrastructure. Everything is done in one spot, and no one’s at risk from spraying directly. For some crops, like vineyards, drones work even better because ground-based equipment doesn’t have as many good spraying options.
Spray drones are like scalpels, crop dusters are like hammers. You don’t use a scalpel to pound nails, and you don’t use a hammer for surgery.
If you’ve got a small area that needs spraying fast, a drone can handle it without having to wait for someone else. But if you need hundreds of acres sprayed, a plane or helicopter can cover it way faster.
Drones won’t replace traditional crop dusters. They’re just another tool for different needs.
I work in aerial application. Here’s what drones do that planes don’t:
Farmers can buy them and just pay young workers minimum wage to run them. They’re not efficient and the quality is often lower, but farmers like the control of doing it themselves.
Sprayer drones are pretty specific in how they’re used. You wouldn’t treat them the same as a crop duster.
They’re more for targeted treatment. For example, you only need to spray the weeds, not the whole field, even if your crop is fine with the herbicide.
They’re also used for monitoring, soil temperature checks, drainage, even nutrient levels with LIDAR. With large farms, they let you spot issues in the field without having to physically walk over and check.
It’s true you’ll need more frequent loading with drones, but crop dusters also have dedicated handlers and loaders. The crop duster might cover 100 acres per load, but it has to fly back to the airport each time, where workers are mixing and loading the product.
Drones avoid all that travel. If your field is 10 miles from the airport, you’re paying for all that flight time back and forth. Drones can work right there in the field without all that wasted time.
Don’t forget drones can be automated. Cessna pilots and tractor drivers need way more skills compared to swapping batteries or filling the sprayer, which you could probably train someone to do easily, maybe even a high schooler interested in robotics.
@Nash
Less skill than flying a plane, sure, but it’s not totally simple. ‘Low skill’ usually means barely any training, which isn’t the case here. You still need to handle some serious licensing and get certified as a remote pilot.
@Nash
Just to clarify, I haven’t worked with ag drones, so I might be off here. I also don’t have farm management experience, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
