Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

How Many Farmers Are Really Using Drones – And Who’s Flying?

By Nicholas A. Tonelli (Flickr: Nittany Valley Farms) [CC BY 2.0 ]

When you wish to know what’s actually occurring on America’s farms, the Farm Journal is the place to go.  The Farm Journal Pulse polls farmers and ranchers through textual content twice a month with easy questions.  The nameless solutions present illuminating insights on subjects from politics to pesticides in American agriculture.

The newest Farm Journal Pulse query was “Will You Use a Drone on Your Operation This Year?”  A 3rd of the respondents stated sure.

Key Takeaways

Key takeaways of the ballot:

  • Most farmers are working their very own drones
  • The pattern goes in the correct course – 31% stated they aren’t utilizing drones now, however will contemplate for subsequent yr;
  • There continues to be some work to do for the drone trade:  37% say that they aren’t utilizing drones and don’t have any plans to take action.

Of the farmers who stated that they do use drones, about 63% stated they’ll function the drone themselves.  The remaining stated that they’ll rent a third get together skilled operator.

The pattern is nice information for the drone trade.  Agriculture is likely one of the high vertical markets for drones, with a robust ROI and a broad vary of accessible instruments.  The drone trade claims a “triple bottom line” for agriculture.  Drones present a reasonable technique of getting information; and the information can simply be used to each lower bills and improve yields.  Drone initiatives scale throughout many alternative sizes and sorts of operations.  Consequently, agriculture has been one of many quickest rising sectors for industrial drones.

The 37 % of respondents who aren’t utilizing drones – and don’t plan to – point out that the trade continues to be in its infancy.  As drone use turns into extra widespread, and the drones and information platforms simpler  to make use of and extra acquainted, these numbers might change quickly.

 

Miriam McNabb is the CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. She writes for DRONELIFE on present information, monetary traits, and FAA laws. Miriam has a level from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
Email Miriam
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
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