Drones in Agriculture

Active FCC rulemaking considers hardware and software disclosures that could affect agricultural and commercial drone manufacturers A new FCC rulemaking could require drone manufacturers to disclose detailed information about the hardware and software inside their products. The Federal Communications Commission published its Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on August 7,… Read more: FCC Proposal Could Bring Drone Software and Supply Chains Under Greater Scrutiny

USDA has conducted more than 1,000 drone surveillance flights in Texas, while the Department of Homeland Security brings border surveillance capabilities and personnel into the federal response. Drones and federal border surveillance resources are taking on a new mission in Texas: helping combat New World screwworm. New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae… Read more: From Border Security to Biosecurity: Drones Join the Fight Against New World Screwworm

Company says proposed “military-grade” categories could reach aircraft used in public safety, agriculture, inspection and other civilian applications DJI is warning U.S. drone operators that a Federal Communications Commission proposal targeting certain foreign-made “military-grade” drones could reach much further than the terminology suggests. In a new response to the FCC’s July 21 action, DJI argues… Read more: DJI Warns FCC Proposal Could Restrict Widely Used Commercial Drones

Agency says Washington company conducted unauthorized fertilizer application flights without required certification The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of $289,215 against Gorge Drones of Stevenson, Washington, alleging the company conducted unauthorized agricultural drone operations in early 2025. According to the FAA, the proposed enforcement action stems from 15 flights in which… Read more: FAA Proposes Civil Penalty Against Drone Operator for Alleged Agricultural Flight Violations

The Texas-built sensor returns with updated hardware, DLS 2 light-sensor support and field-proven use in wheat fertilizer and fungicide research. AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (dba EagleNXT) has reintroduced the MicaSense RedEdge-MX multispectral sensor, the company announced July 29, 2026. The Allen, Texas-based company (NYSE: UAVS) will assemble the sensor at a newly installed, dedicated production… Read more: EagleNXT Reintroduces MicaSense RedEdge-MX Multispectral Sensor

FCC proposal aimed at foreign “military-grade” drones could also affect agricultural spray platforms, highlighting emerging policy questions. When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on July 21 that it was seeking public comment on whether to prohibit the importation and sale of additional categories of foreign-produced “military-grade” drones, most attention focused on thermal imaging, swarming,… Read more: Military or Farm Tool? FCC’s Proposed Drone Categories Blur the Line

Powerus deals point to growth in U.S., international markets By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill A Florida-based company that manufactures heavy-lift drones for defense and commercial applications has launched a new agriculture division to market its products in the United State and overseas. Powerus said the new business unit will be operated under the umbrella… Read more: Powerus Expands U.S.-Made Heavy-Lift Drones Into Agriculture

In this guest post, Vanessa Trout, Executive Director of the White River Conservation District, describes how rural conservation districts in Colorado are using drone technology to support agriculture, watershed management, and land stewardship. Her article explores how practical drone applications can help small communities monitor and manage natural resources more efficiently.  DRONELIFE does not accept… Read more: How Rural Colorado Is Putting Drones to Work for Conservation

This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.     Researchers at the University of Tokyo say drone imagery, machine learning, and a growth curve model can estimate underground potato yield before harvest. Researchers at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Kubota Corporation have developed… Read more: University of Tokyo and Kubota Develop Drone Potato Yield Prediction Method

This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.   A new report from Tokyo-based Market Research Center sizes Japan’s agriculture drone market at $104.8 million in 2025 and forecasts a 14.62% CAGR through 2034. Tokyo-based Market Research Center, Inc. has published a new report on the Japan agriculture drone market covering 2026 through… Read more: Japan Agriculture Drone Market Projected to Reach $357.8M by 2034

From Airports to Agriculture: RoBird Finds New Role Protecting Crops Flapping-wing drone technology expands from bird-strike prevention to agricultural crop protection A drone designed to imitate one of nature’s most effective predators is finding new applications beyond airport runways.   According to a recent report from ABC Rural in Australia, growers in Queensland are testing… Read more: Designed to Fly Like a Falcon, RoBird Takes Aim at Crop-Damaging Birds

New propulsion platform targets growing precision agriculture UAV market As agricultural drone adoption continues to expand worldwide, ePropelled has introduced a new integrated propulsion and power system designed specifically for agricultural UAVs. The company announced the launch on May 13, positioning the platform as a response to growing demand for more efficient and reliable drone… Read more: ePropelled Launches Integrated Power System for Agricultural Drones

Update, Tuesday April 28, 2026: New Jersey state police have reported that the stolen drones were recovered yesterday from a warehouse in Dover, NJ after a warehouse employee contacted police.  Police say that the investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available.  Incident highlights long-standing concerns about drone misuse and growing focus on… Read more: Theft of Agricultural Spray Drones in New Jersey Raises Security Questions-UPDATE

Collaboration focuses on improving application efficiency, product performance, and pilot training American Drone Network (ADN) has announced a new partnership with BRANDT to support agricultural drone operations. The agreement focuses on improving how crop inputs perform when applied by drones. It also aims to help pilots work more efficiently in the field. The companies will… Read more: American Drone Network and BRANDT Partner to Advance Agricultural Drone Spraying

A Hungarian drone start-up is seeking to challenge the market-leading China-based manufacturers that dominate international markets for heavy-duty drones used in agriculture and industrial applications.  ABZ Innovation recently announced the closing of an $8.2 million funding round to support the five-year-old company’s next growth phase, aimed at scaling production, speeding up product development and expanding… Read more: Hungary’s ABZ Innovation Challenges Farm Drone Giants

Aureus Greenway Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: AGH) and Autonomous Power Corporation, doing business as Powerus, announced a definitive merger agreement on March 9, 2026. The combined company will operate as Powerus Corporation and trade on Nasdaq under the ticker “PUSA” upon deal close, expected in summer 2026. Autonomous Drone Systems Built for High-Risk Environments Powerus focuses… Read more: Powerus and Aureus Greenway Holdings Announce Merger to Advance Autonomous Drone Systems

Kaizen Aerospace, a heavy-lift autonomous aerial systems company, has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the State Scientific-Design Institute “Oʻzdavyerloyiha.” The agreement establishes a framework for deploying UAV technologies across Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. Drone Deployment Across 300,000 Hectares The memorandum targets evaluation of drone operations across up to 300,000 hectares… Read more: Kaizen Signs Agricultural UAV Agreement with Uzbekistan

The FCC’s recent decision to prohibit new foreign-made drones and components marks a major shift in U.S. drone policy, aimed at reshaping supply chains in the name of national security. In this guest post, drone industry leader Mariah Scott explores why the ban is less about individual companies and more about building a coordinated, resilient… Read more: Mariah Scott on Building a Resilient US Drone Ecosystem

KULR Technology Group and Hylio have entered a joint collaboration to produce NDAA-compliant battery systems for agricultural drones built in Texas. The partnership centers on U.S.-based design and manufacturing to strengthen secure domestic supply chains for drone energy systems. The companies plan to design, prototype, and qualify high-performance batteries for Hylio’s unmanned aerial systems. Engineering… Read more: New Partnership Building Farming Drone Batteries in Texas

New policy brief reframes BVLOS as infrastructure policy, industrial policy, and digital coordination policy, not just an aviation update. SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo) will release its new policy brief, From Waivers to Scale: How BVLOS Modernizes America’s Low-Altitude Infrastructure, during a free webinar tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 17) at 1:00 PM ET. Register for… Read more: Beyond “BVLOS Is Necessary”: SAFE Brief Defines What a Workable Rule Must Deliver