Drone Spraying Surges 340%
I recently bought a drone for our cattle ranch to locate livestock without driving every acre. And turns out, I'm not the only aggie getting techy.
A new American Farm Bureau Federation report looks at a different use for drones: applying crop protection products.
And there's some history here. Back in 1987, Yamaha introduced an unmanned helicopter to help Japanese rice farmers apply pesticides.
Fast-forward to today, and drone applications are taking off in American agriculture.
Farm Bureau reports acreage treated by agricultural drones has jumped more than 340% since 2023, reaching 16.4 million acres in 2025.
For California growers, drones are finding applications in vineyards, particularly on steep terrain where conventional spraying equipment struggles.
They're also creating opportunities for custom applicators, although licensing, training, and investment are required.
And while the U.S. still trails countries like China in agricultural drone use, rapid growth suggests drones are moving from a niche to a much more common management tool.
