Drones and robots are becoming essential farm tools, as agriculture gets smart

Farming doesn’t have to be low-tech.

Two of the biggest challenges family farmers face are competition with larger, more high-tech farms and keeping the next generations interested in farming. Smart farming, which includes incorporating drones and robots into agriculture, can address both of these issues by making small farms potentially more productive while using tech that appeals to young people.

There was no lack of interest in the smart farming demos at the BIPOC Farmers Conference earlier this month, which came together through a partnership between Delaware State University’s School of Agriculture and Droneversity, a drone pilot school based in Wilmington.

“We’re trying to get more seasoned farmers to embrace this technology,” said Droneversity founder Ashlee Cooper, who recently won the 2024 Swim with the Sharks pitch competition.

A 2023 survey by Iowa State University found that 21% of responding farmers reported using drones and 32% percent said they plan on using drones in the future. Another 25% said they are open to the technology in the future — if that holds, the majority of farmers could be using drones in a few years.  

Agriculture is one of several drone applications Droneversity trains pilots for. Others include entertainment like light shows for events, emergency services and logistics. Young students learn through competitive play, including drone soccer. 

Tech for crop dusting, field mapping and measuring plant health

What can drones and robots do for family farms? With built-in cameras, drones can scout, count and collect data for farmers. 

For example, in combination with robotic dogs on the ground for mapping, the drones can make a model of the farm that can be used for measuring crop health and crop planning. Farm mapping gives farmers insights into the best way to use the land, irrigate, minimize unnecessary pesticide use and maximize harvests. 

A thermal drone that takes infrared video showing temperature distribution can be used to inspect crop health as temperature can be used to assess how the plants are doing. It can also be for irrigation and livestock monitoring. 

Crop dusting is another area where drones are useful. Traditionally, fertilizer or pesticide is “dusted” over crops from a small airplane. Large drones — some the size of a small helicopter — have reservoirs that hold liquid fertilizer for crop dusting. 

“You can synchronize [cropdusting drones], so you can have five of them swarm,” Cooper said. 

While purchasing a drone or five may be more affordable than buying a plane, farmers don’t necessarily have to buy and operate the tech themselves.

“There are outside companies that you can hire to just come in and do the work,” Cooper said. “And that’s cost-effective for some farmers.”

Either way, there are state grants and loans that can help with the costs of new equipment and technology.

Drawing young people into farming with drones

Technology was a major factor in pre-2000 farm foreclosures, so it can be a challenge to build trust with farmers who are unfamiliar with it. The hope is that smart farming can appeal to young people, a demographic that is walking away from family farming.

“This has been a way for farmers who haven’t been able to engage the younger generation to actually bring them in,” Cooper said.

Judging by the enthusiasm of middle school students who came to the conference for a field trip, drones and robots do get younger generations excited. Students crowded around Cooper, eager to answer questions about drones to earn a spit in a mini drone building competition. The winning team got to keep the coveted drone.

“We’re teaching the engineering,” Cooper said, “and the science behind drones.”