By Ricky Dana
Drones aren’t just for hobbyists or taking pretty pictures from the sky. Here in Missouri—and across rural America—farmers are using drones as a new set of eyes and tools for their fields. From scouting crops to checking livestock, drones are giving farm families the edge to make faster, smarter decisions that save time and money.
Crop Scouting and Disease Detection
Walking every acre is next to impossible, especially for the bigger fields common across Missouri’s 4th District. With a drone, a farmer can fly over hundreds of acres in minutes, capturing high-resolution images and even multispectral data. This allows us to spot early signs of disease, pest infestations, or drought stress before they become a real problem. According to the Agriculture.com Successful Farming report, drone scouting can help identify trouble spots for timely spraying or irrigation, boosting yields and reducing chemical costs.
Livestock Monitoring and Herd Checks
Farmers with cattle spread across large pastures know the hassle of daily herd checks. Drones equipped with cameras and even thermal sensors can be sent out to find stragglers, check on calving cows, or spot animals that have wandered off. The Farm Progress points out that drones have cut down the time and labor it takes to find missing animals or monitor herd health, especially after storms or during calving season.
Saving Time, Fuel, and Labor
Time and labor are at a premium for any family farm. Using drones to scout fields or check fences means fewer miles driven, less fuel used, and fewer hours spent riding an ATV over rough ground. That’s not just convenience—it’s real savings for farms already pinched by high costs and low prices. Some studies, like the one from the University of Missouri Extension, show that farmers using drones have cut scouting time by more than half.
Precision Spraying and Seeding
Drones aren’t just for looking—they can do the work, too. Newer drone models can spot-spray small patches of weeds or disease, meaning fewer chemicals are used and more of the crop stays healthy. Some companies are even testing drones for planting cover crops, dropping seeds into hard-to-reach spots where a tractor can’t go. This type of precision work is only possible with drone technology, and it’s keeping Missouri farmers competitive in a tight market.
Disaster Response and Insurance Claims
Missouri weather is unpredictable—hail, floods, and drought all take their toll. After a storm, drones help farmers survey damage quickly and safely. Insurance companies are starting to use drone photos as evidence for crop loss claims, speeding up the payout process. According to the Iowa State University Extension, this has helped some farmers recover faster after natural disasters.
What’s Next?
The technology keeps getting better. In the near future, expect more farms to use drones with artificial intelligence to map fields, count plants, and even predict yields. The days of guesswork are fading—drones put hard data right in a farmer’s hands, so every decision is based on what’s really happening on the ground.
For Missouri’s 4th District, drones are more than a tech fad. They’re a practical tool that helps keep rural farms strong, efficient, and ready for the challenges ahead. When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll support the adoption of ag technology and fight for rural broadband and infrastructure so every farm—large or small—can benefit from these advances.
Drones are just one more way Missouri farmers are adapting, innovating, and looking out for each other. We’ve always found a way to get the job done, and this new technology is helping us do it smarter and better than ever before.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I will lead a focused grant effort to help Missouri’s 4th District farmers try, learn, and adopt drone tools without taking on the full cost up front. This is a practical way to boost yields, reduce inputs, and save time for our family farms.
How I’ll make it happen
I will identify and pursue state and federal grants, cost‑share programs, and pilot funds dedicated to precision agriculture and rural innovation. We will prioritize small and mid‑sized family farms, beginning farmers, and veteran producers so the benefits reach the folks who need them most.
Local partnerships
I’ll work to partner with University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension to host on‑farm demonstrations, hands‑on training days, and FAA Part 107 prep workshops. Together, we’ll provide clear, practical guidance on crop scouting, pasture checks, mapping, and safe flight operations—delivered by trusted local experts.
USDA Support
In addition to grants and local partnerships, I will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to connect our farmers with existing USDA programs that support precision agriculture. This includes cost-share opportunities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), equipment financing options from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Rural Development initiatives that strengthen broadband access for faster drone data transfer.
By making sure our producers know about—and can easily apply for—these USDA resources, we can stretch every dollar further and make drone technology accessible to more farms across Missouri’s 4th District.
Keeping it farmer‑friendly
We’ll ensure any program is simple to use and respects producers’ time and privacy. That means straightforward sign‑ups, help with equipment setup, and resources to protect farm data. I’ll also push for rural broadband support so drone data can be uploaded quickly and securely.
Results you can see
We’ll measure outcomes—like input savings, time saved, and yield improvements—and share those results openly so neighbors can see what works before investing. This is about practical tools that help farmers make better decisions and keep our rural communities strong.
I’m committed to bringing real resources home and putting them to work for our producers. That’s how we keep Missouri agriculture competitive—by giving our farmers access to the best tools and the training to use them well.
Sources:
Navigate the Drone Learning Curve – Agriculture.com (Successful Farming)
Getting Started with Drone Technology on Your Farm – Iowa State University Extension
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) – FAA: Part 107 rules & drone stats
Precision ag use increases with farm size – USDA ERS (Chart of Note)
Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications – University of Missouri Extension
Eye in the sky: Drones help manage the herd – Farm Progress
Original concept and content created by Ricky Dana.
Posted on: August 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM (CT)