The Sky’s the Limit for Drones on the Farm

Enthusiasm for drone use in agriculture is growing quickly, says Caleb O’Neal, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in plant science.

O’Neal teaches classes about drones across the state. He’s seen interest from farmers, commercial sprayers, cow-calf operators, real estate professionals and some who are just curious about new technology. According to the American Spray Drone Coalition, acres sprayed in the United States increased from 4 million to 10.3 million from 2023 to 2024.

Drones much like the ATVs in the 1980s

O’Neal likens increased drone usage to what happened decades ago with all-terrain and utility task vehicles. “Back in the 1980s, it would have been rare to see a UTV being used on a farm,” he says. “Visiting farms today, I’m hard-pressed to find an operation larger than 20 acres that doesn’t have some type of UTV that they utilize on a regular basis.”

This likely will be the case of drones on the farm as more farmers and ranchers see what an incredible tool they are, he says. “Drones have progressed from being a neat toy we might get our kids for Christmas to becoming a necessity for many agricultural operations.”