By Andi Anderson
Agricultural drones have quickly become one of the most influential technologies in modern farming. Once seen only as hobby tools, drones are now reshaping how farmers manage crops, apply fertilizers, improve efficiency, and monitor field conditions.
A recent study published in Science highlights how fast this technology has spread across the world, beginning in Asia and rapidly expanding to Latin America, North America, and Europe.
Researchers Ben Belton and Leo Baldiga from Michigan State University explain that earlier drone models were small, costly, and difficult to operate.
Today’s models are more powerful, user-friendly, and capable of carrying loads up to 220 pounds. This shift has turned drones into multifunctional farm tools that work much like “flying tractors.”
Farmers now use drones for a wide range of activities, including spraying pesticides, spreading fertilizers, sowing seeds, transporting produce, monitoring livestock, and mapping fields.
Drones also help measure crop health, make topographic maps, and support greenhouse operations. Their versatility makes them useful across large commercial farms as well as small family farms.
Drone adoption has accelerated faster than most agricultural innovations. Instead of moving from high-income countries downward, drones spread first from East Asia to Southeast Asia, then to Latin America, and finally to North America and Europe.
China remains the global leader, with more than 250,000 agricultural drones in use. Thailand has also seen dramatic growth, with drones used on about 30% of its farmland by 2023.
In the United States, agricultural drone registrations increased from about 1,000 in January 2024 to around 5,500 by mid-2025. Many farmers now rely on drones to spray crops like corn and soybeans, especially in areas where tractors cannot easily reach.
Drones offer important benefits, such as reducing farmers’ exposure to chemicals, lowering fuel use, and applying fertilizers and seeds more precisely. They may also reduce crop damage and help increase yields.
However, there are risks. If not used correctly, drones spraying from height may cause chemical drift, affecting nearby farms or waterways. There are also labor concerns, as drones may replace manual sprayers while creating new jobs for trained pilots.
Signs suggest that drones will play an even bigger role in the future. They may help increase food production while reducing environmental impact—an important goal known as sustainable intensification.
Although more research is needed on long-term impacts, drones are already reshaping agriculture faster than nearly any previous technology.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seregalsv
Categories: Michigan, Equipment & Machinery