In a world where resources are becoming increasingly limited year by year, and environmental safety requirements are constantly rising, continuous agricultural innovations continue to amaze, opening new opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses. Over the last decades, global agricultural production has undergone a true revolution thanks to the introduction of cutting-edge technologies. One of the most innovative, promising, yet still underdeveloped areas is that of spraying drones.
According to DJI's reports, the global leader in spraying drone manufacturing, as of the end of 2023, there were over 300,000 agricultural drones in operation across more than 100 countries and regions. By June 2024, these drones had been used to treat over 500 million hectares of farmland, while 6,000 instructors and 300,000 pilots had been trained to operate them. The treatment of over 500 million hectares with agricultural drones has helped save 210 million metric tons of water—equivalent to the annual consumption of 390 million people. Additionally, the use of agro-drones has reduced pesticide usage by 47,000 metric tons (at 100% concentration) and cut carbon emissions by 25.72 million metric tons—equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 1.2 billion trees.
As for Ukraine, we are not lagging behind in integrating innovative solutions into the agricultural sector, but adoption is still not at the scale we would like.
As of 2024, only about 30% of Ukrainian agricultural producers’ demand for pesticide application using drones has been met. A more detailed analysis is available in the article at this link.
The materials used in the main part of this article were prepared by AGRONIX, a company that is actively compensating for the shortage of spraying drones in Ukraine’s agricultural sector. It helps agro-producers integrate flying crop protectors into their technological processes, demonstrating how modern technology can transform farming approaches.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPRAYING DRONE
Without wasting the reader’s time on abstract drone development histories or theoretical applications, let’s get straight to the most common question: “Which drone should I choose for my farm’s conditions?”
To choose the optimal drone, it is important to understand the potential area for pesticide application:
◻️ For farmers, a compact agro-drone with a tank capacity of 20–30 L will be sufficient. Such a model should be as simple as possible to operate and maintain.
With a spray rate of up to 8 L/ha, this drone can cover 70–100 hectares per shift. At this efficiency level, a farmer can complete one full treatment cycle across their fields within 3–7 days.
Based on 2024 experience, landowners with around 500 hectares primarily purchased spraying drones for their own farms, and later expanded services to neighboring farms that also needed drone-based pesticide application but were not yet ready to invest in their own equipment.
◻️ For large agricultural holdings managing 50,000–100,000 hectares, it is necessary to deploy an entire fleet of highly productive drones.
Although most large agribusinesses remain skeptical about building in-house spraying drone fleets, one of Ukraine’s largest landowners successfully integrated around 50 AGRAS T30 drones into their operations.
Since early 2022, these drones have completed three full seasons, and considering ongoing spare part purchases and wintertime major equipment repairs, they remain in high demand within the company.
While the AGRAS T30 remains a solid option, given the current market landscape, it is now advisable to consider the AGRAS T50 for maximum productivity.
Productivity chart of different DJI AGRAS drone models (hectares per shift).
◻️ For an agricultural producer, managing 1,000–5,000 hectares, the optimal choice might be either a high-performance drone or several smaller drones, depending on individual needs. The increase in drone productivity is achieved through a larger tank capacity (30–50 L), higher speed, and greater spraying width. Additionally, optimizing team processes and equipping them with the most efficient tools while implementing a strong motivation system can boost the productivity of any drone by up to 50%. This way, an agricultural producer can plan a single drone's efficiency within 150–200 hectares per shift.
💡 AGRONIX specialists, based on their experience, can easily increase the productivity and efficiency of your drone and the entire operational team.
For both farmers and agricultural producers, one spraying drone is usually sufficient. A detailed breakdown of the total investment cost for a compact AGRAS T30 drone, including equipment, application costs, and payback period, is provided in the article.
As we can see from the following chart, drones with a productivity of 210 hectares per shift are already available. Taking into account only 20 working shifts, such a drone can treat more than 4,000 hectares per month.
Considering the needs and realities of large agricultural holdings, over a single season, a drone like AGRAS T50 can apply pesticides on an area of 10,000–15,000 hectares.
Given that wide-span sprayers can treat 30,000–40,000 hectares per season, 2–3 agro-drones can now match the productivity of a traditional wheeled sprayer. The only remaining challenge is to ensure consistently high-quality pesticide application.
QUALITY OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION WITH AGRO-DRONES
💡 The following information is intended for those who are mentally prepared to try drone-based pesticide application and just need to clarify the finer details.
First, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the basics of pesticide application, as outlined in the “Spraying from A to Z” reference book by LECHLER.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PESTICIDE FORMULATION
◻️ Water-soluble formulations (water-soluble pesticide forms) are the most suitable for drone use (concentrates, water-soluble powders, or granules). They mix easily with water, creating a stable working solution without the risk of sediment formation.
◻️ Suspensions and emulsions are also widely used, but they require thorough mixing to prevent solution inconsistencies, which could clog nozzles.
◻️ Oil-based concentrates should be used with caution, as they can reduce spray quality by forming large droplets or films, which lowers drone efficiency.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FORMULATIONS USED WITH DRONES
◻️ Formulations must ensure even droplet distribution and minimal drift at an optimal wind speed.
◻️ Avoid using formulations that create sediment, as this can clog drone nozzles (though this is less critical for drones with atomizers).
◻️ Choosing pesticides with high active ingredient concentrations helps reduce the working solution volume, which is crucial for drones.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES
HARMONY (herbicide): A systemic herbicide in the form of water-soluble granules, used to control broadleaf weeds in soybean, corn, flax, and cereal crops.
IMPACT 500 (fungicide): A broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, formulated as a suspension concentrate, designed to combat diseases in winter wheat, barley, and sugar beet.
VANTACOR (insecticide): Available as a suspension concentrate, preserving all the properties of industry-leading Rynaxypyr, including minimal impact on mammals, low ecotoxicological risk, excellent safety for pollinators and beneficial entomofauna, as well as improved properties for solution preparation, application, and resistance to wash-off at low rates.
CONSIDERING THE SPECIFICS OF WORKING SOLUTIONS
Drones perform ultra-low-volume (ULV) spraying, meaning application rates between 5–12 liters per hectare. This requires selecting pesticides that:
◻️ Are effective at low water volumes. Products should provide high active ingredient concentration even at minimal solution volumes.
◻️ Penetrate quickly. Contact pesticides or those that rapidly enter plant tissues ensure optimal effectiveness.
◻️ Do not produce fine dust. This minimizes wind drift risks and ensures precise application.
CONSIDERING WEATHER CONDITIONS
Drones are most effective for pesticide application under the following conditions:
◻️ Wind speed up to 3, maximum 5 m/s. Excessive wind can drift fine droplets, reducing treatment efficiency.
◻️ Temperature. Avoid working at air temperatures above 25°C, as this can lead to accelerated evaporation.
◻️ Humidity. High humidity enhances the effectiveness of systemic pesticides.
PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
◻️ Testing the working solution. Always test the solution before treating large areas to prevent sedimentation or nozzle clogging.
◻️ Adding adjuvants. Use wetting agents or sticking agents, which improve solution spreading on leaves and increase effectiveness.
◻️ Thorough equipment cleaning. After using different pesticide formulations, always rinse the drone tank and nozzles to prevent residue interactions.
Common mistakes to avoid
Incorrect spraying time selection:
◻️ Avoid spraying during strong winds or rain, as this can lead to poor pesticide distribution and losses.
◻️ The best time for spraying is at night, when temperatures are lower and winds are weaker.
Low-quality working solution preparation:
◻️ Incorrect pesticide concentration can lead to low effectiveness or even crop damage.
◻️ Before preparing the working solution, check the compatibility of pesticides with each other and with water.
Ignoring Pesticide Manufacturer Recommendations:
◻️ Always follow the instructions for pesticide use—this will help avoid overspending and ensure maximum effectiveness.
◻️ Do not forget about expiration dates and proper storage conditions for pesticides.
Incorrect Equipment Selection:
◻️ Choose drones according to your farm size and crop types.
◻️ Not all models are suitable for every type of work; some may lack power or have limited payload capacity.
Poor Personnel Training:
◻️ Operators must be trained in the proper use of drones and have basic knowledge of pesticide application.
◻️ IN THE AGRONIX PILOT ACADEMY, ANYONE CAN LEARN THE BASICS OF EFFECTIVE AGRO-DRONE OPERATION IN JUST 2–3 DAYS.
CONCLUSIONS
Spraying drones are becoming an integral part of modern precision farming. Their use allows for increased productivity, cost reduction, and a lower environmental impact. For effective adoption of these technologies, it is essential to select equipment based on farm size and ensure compliance with all technical and agronomic requirements.
To further improve drone usage, it is recommended to adapt international experience, particularly from leading agro-innovation nations such as China and Brazil, where drones have become a primary tool for crop protection and yield enhancement.
Ukrainian farmers who adopt drone technology from progressive agricultural countries will gain a competitive advantage by leveraging these innovations.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Invest in staff training, follow recommendations for selecting drones and pesticides, and achieve maximum efficiency and satisfaction from using agro-drones on your farm.
