August 2023 - 26

AG TECH
Paying a worker to fly a drone on a farm with a couple
thousand acres can run $10 to $15 an acre for season-long
images that chart a crop's progress through the entire
season. But that compares to contracting with a supplier
to provide seven aerial images and brief narratives that
can cost up to $70 an acre per year, Hein said.
" One of the greatest advantages of using drones is their
scalability, making aerial imagery applicable to both large
and small farms, " said Adityah Singh, assistant professor
of agricultural and biological engineering at the University
of Florida. " The investment in drones or drone services
can be tailored to the specific needs and scale of the
application, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness in
various contexts. "
While entry level drones cost $400-$1,500, units
regularly used on the farm can begin in the $2,500 range,
Hein said. Longer flight times with larger platforms
covering more acres can hike a year's lease to $8,000.
Spray platforms with higher capacity payloads can cost
$30,000-$40,000 a year.
Hein compares drone ownership to golf. Beyond the bag
and clubs, other extras, including shoes, clothing and hats,
are needed. Growers soon begin buying extra batteries,
carrying cases, different cameras and new software.
Despite a high initial investment, owning can be
Drones flying over orchards and vineyards can supply
images to help growers more precisely identify areas
of concern. Photo courtesy ColbyAgTech.com.
cost-effective in the long run, particularly if a grower
requires frequent or ongoing aerial data collection, said
Chad Colby, agricultural technologist consultant and
owner of ColbyAgTech.com. Contracting the service,
however, transfers the burden of maintenance, repairs
and compliance to the service provider, reducing grower
responsibility and allows them to focus on core operations,
he said.
Providers may charge fees for services beyond standard
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offerings, including customized analysis and flight plans,
specific images, data processing and capture settings.
Expect to be charged for flight set up and take down and
for additional equipment or sensors and add-on services.
Additionally, some providers may require insurance
coverage and liabilities for their operations, while others
may require that growers add the drone company as
an additional insured party. Growers should clarify
insurance-related responsibilities and other costs up
front, he said.
Growers can avoid the inevitable lag in tech through
leasing. The question of owning vs. leasing can come
down to the high capital outlay required for rapidly
changing technology.
There are times when drones may not make sense,
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26 | AUGUST 2023
said Michael Reinke, Michigan State University Extension
viticulture specialist and integrated pest management
educator for fruits and vegetables.
" The jury is still out whether drones will provide the
coverage and efficacy in large fruit or nut cropping
systems that ground-based sprayers currently do, " he
said. " There are legal hurdles with airspace restrictions on
farms near airports or other sensitive sites. So, the best
route is a farm-by-farm decision. "
The biggest hurdle to drone use is the legal one.
" If you want to use a drone for scouting, identifying
issues, or site planning, I think it could be worth it to buy a
drone and some mapping software and try it out, " Reinke
said. " If you are interested in an application drone, I would
seriously think about contracting out at least at first to see
if it is a fit for your farm before you look into the costs and
certification challenges.
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August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
