Drones are quickly becoming a modern-day phenomenon. While many people use these awesome flying devices for fun or to take pictures, there are other practical applications for their use as well. One such example is using the drone around the farm or for other agricultural purposes. Let’s take a look at some of the best drones for agriculture to help assist with any needs you might have in that regard.
Contents
Quick Summary
- The Advanced 8 Axis AP6-16E E617 AG Drone is one of the best agricultural drones around. It has a high-efficiency brushless motor and is built to handle the steady use required for agricultural purposes.
- Another good option is the Parrot Bluegrass Fields Agricultural Quadcopter Scorpion Drone. This drone has a great design, excellent sensor, and the ability to aid in an assortment of agricultural situations.
- If you need an agriculture drone that doesn’t involve spraying or watering, the DJI Mavic Mini is a great option. It’s more affordable than other ag-focused drones, but will still deliver steady ride time and great images.
Who Should Get This?
If you work in agriculture, you know that new technologies often allow for improvements in your daily operations. While regular drones help in some instances, a drone built specifically for agricultural purposes is your best bet when you want the most success. An agricultural drone can water or spray crops efficiently and effectively while saving time and money. They do cost a bit up front, but can easily pay for themselves over time.
If you don’t have any agricultural needs, then you don’t need a drone designed for these purposes. Drones for agriculture are built with additional equipment and capabilities on top of having a camera that allows them to handle a variety of different tasks. This increases their costs significantly. If you don’t have a need for these additional capabilities, you’re better off with a cheaper drone.
Best Drones for Agriculture: What to Consider
Flight Time
One important consideration when getting an agricultural drone is its flight time. In order to water crops, or spray them with fertilizer or pesticides, you need a drone that will be able to stay in the air long enough to be effective. Flight time comes down to how long the battery lasts. Some drones can have a notoriously short battery life, so it’s a good idea to look for an option that has a battery that will last long enough for the purposes you need it for.
Another way to increase flight time is to get several batteries or even several drones. There are no readily available drones that are designed to last forever. Take into account your desired flight time and cross-check that with the battery life on the drone you’re thinking about purchasing.
Watering/Spraying Capabilities
One common use for a drone in regards to agricultural purposes is either for watering or spraying crops. Drones allow you to effectively spray or water crops individually which will give you a customized approach to all your agricultural solutions. You can cut costs by saving water and chemicals and also only spot treat the crops that need water rather than spraying an entire field.
Drones built with spraying and watering capabilities in mind will have a reservoir to hold the liquid and a means of spraying it onto crops mechanically. This usually means they have a larger profile and cost more, but if that solves your needs, it’s well worth the price.
Camera/Video
A good, high-quality camera is another consideration with any drone you choose. Not only does this affect the operations of the drone, it also enables you to easily analyze and assess your crops. A camera with at least 10MP is good to have, but there are some options that have even better quality. Also, look for a camera that’s well placed and surrounded by a secure housing. In the event of a crash, you don’t want the camera to be ruined.
Best Drones for Agriculture: Our Picks in 2022
1. Advanced 8 Axis AP6-16E E617 AG Drone
This is a great drone for a variety of agricultural needs. It is built to withstand the steady use and heavy demands required in the fields. The Advanced 8 Axis AG Drone is a fully functional and highly capable drone that works wonders in an agricultural setting. It’s well designed and that makes for easy maintenance as well as low long term operating and usage costs.
This drone features a high-efficiency brushless motor as a power source and has pretty decent fly time for a larger drone. It has a holding reservoir for water that’s powered by a reliable pump to effectively and accurately spray or water any crops. Another great feature is the fact that this drone is able to fly at basically any altitude and is not limited in low altitude situations.
Pros:
- Excellent agricultural drone
- Good fly time
- Watering/spraying capabilities
- High-efficiency brushless motor
- Easy maintenance
Cons:
- Expensive
- Larger in size
2. Parrot Bluegrass Fields Agricultural Quadcopter Scorpion Drone
If you’re looking for a drone that will help you effectively analyze your crops, the Parrot Bluegrass Fields Agricultural Quadcopter Scorpion Drone is an excellent option. This drone is built to fly and allows you to improve your workflow and conduct high-end crop analysis from the air. It’s well built, durable, and easy to fly, making it a trusted option in the world of drones for agriculture.
Pros:
- Effective tool for crop analysis
- Easy to fly
- Durable
- Strong construction
- 14 MP front camera
- Solid software support
Cons:
- Expensive
- Doesn’t have watering/spraying capabilities
3. DJI Mavic Mini
The DJI Mavic Mini is another good choice for a drone if your needs are not too intensive. This is less of a commercial-style design, but it still has the ability to get things done around the farm. It only weighs about half of a pound, so you get reliable fly time of around 30 minutes per battery charge. You can easily control this drone from your smartphone and its basic functions will allow you to inspect and snap pictures of any field or property.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Reliable fly time
- Easy to fly
- Controlled from a smartphone
- High-quality 12MP camera
Cons:
- Not equipped for intensive agricultural purposes
- Small profile won’t perform as well in wind or bad weather situations
Useful Tips & Resources
Agricultural drones are on the cutting edge of the future of farms around the world. They allow a degree of precision in a variety of circumstances that were previously unavailable to farmers and anyone else involved in agriculture. They are starting to revolutionize the industry and are worth looking into if they have a need for a drone. Check out some more ways in which drones are shaping the agricultural industry here.
Final Words
Drones may seem like something out of a weird science fiction movie, but they are now a part of our daily lives in many different ways. The automated flying machines are proving valuable and effective in many agricultural situations and offer value and assistance for many around the world. The drones mentioned here are sure to help anyone with a need for agricultural purposes.
Have you ever used a drone for agricultural reasons? Let us know in the comments below.
