Above the Fields with Drones

Drones might seem like a modern addition to the farm, but remotely operated aircraft have actually been helping with agricultural tasks for decades. In Japan, Yamaha began developing an unmanned helicopter for crop spraying in 1983, with the first R-50 model completed in 1987. It could carry a 15-kilogram load and was initially used to spray pesticides on rice fields and orchards before being used on a wider range of crops. By taking on some of the hard physical work involved in pesticide spraying, the R-50 showed how unmanned aircraft could make farm work easier.

Fast-forward several decades and the technology has come a long way. Today’s drones can do much more than spray crops, from monitoring plant health and tracking livestock to mapping fields and collecting detailed data. But how far can this technology really take farming, and what types of challenges and limitations could arise along the way?

How Big is The Drone Boom?

The data show just how quickly drones are taking off in agriculture. China has the largest agricultural drone fleet, with an estimated 250,000 in operation, followed by Japan with around 20,000 and Thailand with 15,000. In China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, drones already cover an area equivalent to 30% or more of total cropland. In the US, the number of registered agricultural drones jumped from around 1,000 in January 2024 to almost 5,500 by July 2025. South Africa is also entering the race, with GreenCape estimating that the country’s agricultural drone market is worth more than R1 billion. 

A Drone for Every Job

With agricultural drones becoming increasingly common, choosing the right type depends largely on what the farmer needs it to do. Some are better suited to precision work, while others are designed to stay in the air longer and cover much larger areas.

Single and multirotor drones offer flexibility for a range of farm tasks. Single-rotor models can stay airborne for longer, making them useful for jobs such as crop spraying. Multirotor drones, which can have four, six or eight rotors, are designed for controlled, precise flight. They can be used to map fields, inspect crops and capture detailed images that help identify issues such as plant stress, pests and irrigation problems.

Fixed-wing drones are better suited to covering large areas. Their aircraft-style design allows them to remain airborne for longer and travel greater distances, making them useful for surveying large farms, fields and estates and collecting data across wide areas.

Hybrid drones offer another option for farmers who need both flexibility and range. They can lift off and land vertically, while their wings allow them to travel further and stay in the air for longer. This makes them useful in areas where space or uneven terrain may limit the use of fixed-wing drones. Their more complex design however, can mean operators need additional training to use them effectively.

The Benefits Drones in the Farmer’s Toolbox 

1. Spot crop problems early

A bird’s-eye view can reveal details that aren’t always easy to spot from the ground. Drones equipped with multispectral and thermal cameras can pick up signs of disease, nutrient deficiencies and water stress before problems become obvious. This allows farmers to pinpoint problem areas in time, target fertiliser more accurately and identify where irrigation is needed. This can result in less water waste, fewer unnecessary inputs and earlier intervention.

2. Take precision agriculture to the next level. 

Precision agriculture is all about putting the right input in the right place at the right time. Drones make this easier by capturing high-resolution images and data on soil moisture, temperature and crop condition. Instead of treating an entire field the same way, farmers can identify exactly where crops need more water, fertiliser or attention. Less guesswork can lead to less waste and better yields. 

3. Spray crops with more precision 

Drone spraying is changing the way some farmers approach crop protection. Drones can reach areas that are difficult for tractors, workers, and conventional machinery to access. They typically fly much closer to crops, around 1.5 to 3 metres above them. This could be particularly useful in Kwazulu-Natal’s rolling sugar cane fields, as sugar cane is South Africa’s third-largest food crop by area, after maize and wheat, and aerial spraying is already widely used in the industry. More controlled application can help farmers target crops more evenly, supporting more consistent crop development and ripening across the field.

4. Keep an eye on livestock 

Drones aren’t just for crops. On large South African farms, they can give farmers a bird’s-eye view of their animals. This helps them track movements, find livestock that have wandered off, identify sick or separated animals, inspect pastures and fences, spot animal snares, and even detect poachers. Instead of spending hours covering large distances on foot or by vehicle, farmers can get a quick overview of what is happening across the farm. 

5. Cover more ground with less fuel 

Drones can use up to 60% less fuel than manned aircraft or fossil-fuel-powered tractors. Their GPS capabilities can also help them map terrain and adjust their flight height automatically. That combination can mean more accurate applications, lower operating costs and greater efficiency, particularly when working across large or uneven areas.

But while drones can open the door to a more technology-driven future by spotting crop problems, improving precision, monitoring livestock and making farming more efficient, they also come with their own set of challenges and considerations…

When Drone Technology Hits Turbulence 

Drones may be changing the way farmers work, but the catch is that it’s not all smooth flying. There are several factors farmers need to consider before taking technology to the skies.

1. Cost and accessibility

While drones are becoming more accessible, the cost can still be a barrier for some farmers, especially smaller operations. Buying or hiring the equipment is only the start. Maintenance, training, software and regulatory requirements can quickly add to the overall expense. This could give larger commercial operations an advantage, allowing them to adopt new technology faster than farmers with fewer resources. Commercial drone use also comes with regulation. Licensing, registration and other compliance requirements can make adoption more complicated and add to the overall cost.

2. Skills shortage and impact on employment

Owning a drone is only half the equation. Farmers and operators need the skills to fly it safely, interpret the data it collects correctly and use it effectively. A shortage of trained workers could therefore limit how much farmers actually benefit from the technology. As drones take over tasks such as land surveying, monitoring and spraying, the role of farm workers could change. In one South African example, a survey that could have taken a traditional surveyor one to two months was completed by a drone in just a few minutes. While the time saved is significant, it raises concerns about how automation could affect jobs in agriculture.

3. Spray drift and increased chemical use

Precision spraying still has its risks. Wind and weather conditions can cause pesticides to drift beyond the intended area, potentially affecting neighbouring farms, workers, bystanders and surrounding ecosystems. Careful planning and weather monitoring are essential to minimise the risk. Although spraying may be faster and more efficient, this does not necessarily mean less chemical use. If drones make spraying faster, easier and cheaper, farmers could potentially spray more frequently or cover larger areas, increasing reliance on agricultural chemicals.

4. Dependence on service providers and data security concern

Many farmers rely on specialised companies for spraying, mapping and monitoring. Outsourcing can make the technology more accessible, but it can also leave farmers dependent on external providers for certain farming activities. With this also comes the question of data security and ownership. Drones can collect highly detailed information about crops, farmland and farming practices, raising important questions about who owns the data, where it is stored and who can access it. This is particularly important when third-party companies are responsible for collecting or processing the information.

5. Limited access to technology 

Drone technology may not be equally accessible to all farmers. Larger, better-resourced operations can often afford new equipment, training and specialist services more easily, while smaller farmers may struggle to keep up. Over time, this could widen the gap between large commercial farms and smaller agricultural operations. For agriculture to truly benefit, the technology needs to be affordable, accessible and responsibly managed, while balancing efficiency with environmental and human considerations.

Ultimately, drones can offer real benefits to agriculture, but their value and return on investment depend on how they are adopted and used. Evaluating the costs, skills, regulations, environmental risks and data security in mind can help farmers make the right decision to get the most out of the technology while ensuring it remains effective.

The Takeaway

From Yamaha’s unmanned agricultural helicopters in the 1980s to today’s drones monitoring crops, spraying fields and tracking livestock, the technology has come a long way. For South African farmers, drones offer new ways to work more precisely, save time and improve efficiency, but they also come with costs, skills requirements, regulations and other considerations. The real opportunity lies in finding the right balance, using drone technology where it adds value while weighing the limitations.

As drones become more capable, their role on the farm could continue to grow, but the key will be finding where they can make a real difference. What do you think? Would you put a drone to work on your farm?