How to choose an agricultural drone
Compare agricultural drones by job, tank size, spray precision, flight time, and workflow support before you buy.
Start with the job you need the drone to do
Agricultural drones can support crop monitoring, spraying, livestock management and land surveying. Yet these jobs call for very different aircraft. A drone bought for field maps may have no way to apply a crop-protection product.
- DJI Agras T100 100 L
- DJI Agras T70P 70 L
- XAG P150 70 L
- DJI Agras T55 50 L
- DJI Agras T50 40 L
- Yamaha FAZER R 32 L
| Model | Value |
|---|---|
| DJI Agras T100 | 100 L |
| DJI Agras T70P | 70 L |
| XAG P150 | 70 L |
| DJI Agras T55 | 50 L |
| DJI Agras T50 | 40 L |
| Yamaha FAZER R | 32 L |
Sources: ag.dji.com, ag.dji.com, xa.com, ag.dji.com, ag.dji.com, global.yamaha-motor.com
Start by writing down the main job in plain terms. Decide what the drone must collect or apply, where it will fly and how often it will work. Treat any other use as a bonus until the main task is covered.
The key split is between imaging and mapping work, and in-field application work. Imaging drones carry cameras or sensors and gather data. Application drones carry liquid or granular material and place it on the crop or soil.
Imaging and mapping
For crop monitoring, check the sensor before you judge the aircraft. The DJI Mavic 3M has a multispectral camera covering green, red, red edge and NIR bands. Its multispectral resolution is 5 MP, while its RGB camera resolution is 20 MP.
The DJI Mavic 3M also has RTK positioning accuracy of 1 cm + 1 ppm horizontally and 1.5 cm + 1 ppm vertically. Its maximum flight time is 43 min without wind. Those figures give a buyer a sound basis for judging image capture and positioning.
The Wingtra WingtraOne GEN II offers up to 59 min of flight time. It can cover 460 ha per flight at 120 m altitude and 2.7 cm/px GSD. Its stated absolute accuracy is 3 cm with RTK or PPK, and its payload capacity is 800 g.
Do not compare flight time alone. Ask what ground sample distance, overlap and accuracy your work needs. The answer should come from the map or crop decision you plan to make.
Spraying and spreading
An application drone needs a tank or container, a suitable pump and the right nozzles. It must also produce the flow needed for the crop and planned application rate. Camera features should not distract from that core task.
Tank size is an obvious filter, but it is not the whole answer. The DJI Agras T25 has a 20 L spray tank and a 35 L spreading tank. The DJI Agras T100 has a 100 L spray tank and a 150 L spreading tank, with a maximum spreading load of 100 kg.
These aircraft sit in very different parts of a work system. The DJI Agras T25 has a maximum take-off weight of 52 kg when spraying at sea level. The DJI Agras T100 reaches 175 kg in its standard spraying configuration.
Compare verified figures across the wider market in our Drone specifications. Use the filters to make a shortlist, then check how each aircraft fits the actual field task.
Choose the right platform class for the farm operation
Agricultural drones have moved beyond basic plant-protection work. They may spray pesticides or spread fertiliser, seed and feed. That wider role has led the trade to use “agricultural drone” as the broader term.
Platform size should follow field scale, crop needs and terrain. A small spray tank may suit short jobs or sites where access is tight. A larger tank may suit work where carrying more product per load matters.
There is a broad range between those ends. The DJI Agras T50 has a 40 L spray tank and a 75 L spreading tank. The DJI Agras T55 raises those capacities to 50 L and 80 L.
Larger options include the DJI Agras T70P with a 70 L spray tank and 100 L spreading tank. The XAG P150 also has a 70 L spray tank, paired with a 115 L granule container. Its maximum spread rate is 280 kg/min.
The Hylio Ares carries 13 gal, or 50 L, for spraying and 20 gal, or 76 L, for spreading. Its stated swath reaches up to 40 ft in both set-ups. Liquid coverage reaches up to 70 acres/hour at a 2 gal/acre rate.
A petrol-powered aircraft may create another type of workflow. The Yamaha FAZER R is an unmanned helicopter with a 32 L spray tank. Its stated coverage per load is approximately 4 ha without refuelling or reloading.
These figures should narrow the field, not settle the order. Tank volume, aircraft weight, flow and support gear interact. A farm must be able to move, fill and run the whole set-up.
Prioritise application precision when spraying or spreading
Agricultural drones can place fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides on chosen areas. Pre-programmed flights can support spot spraying rather than blanket treatment. Targeted work can cut chemical use and cost while reducing over-application and runoff.
Precision starts with the spray system. Check whether the nozzles can handle the planned mix without clogging or changing the dose. The pump must also cope with the product rather than merely quote a high flow rate.
Flow still matters because it limits what the aircraft can deliver. The XAG P100 Pro has a maximum flow rate of 22 L/min with RevoSpray 3. The DJI Agras T25P reaches 24 L/min with four nozzles and 16 L/min with two.
The DJI Agras T55 has a maximum flow rate of 40 L/min. That rises to 50 L/min with its optional four-nozzle configuration. The DJI Agras T100 reaches 30 L/min, or 40 L/min with its optional four-nozzle configuration.
Match flow to the agronomic plan rather than choosing the largest figure. Check the intended product, crop, water volume and required dose with an agronomist. The chemical label must permit the planned method of use.
Positioning data is useful, but it does not describe the whole spray result. The DJI Agras T25, DJI Agras T25P, DJI Agras T50, DJI Agras T55, DJI Agras T70P and DJI Agras T100 all state RTK hovering accuracy of ±10 cm horizontally and vertically. Buyers must still assess nozzles, droplet behaviour, route spacing, crop canopy and weather for the planned work.
Ask for a field demonstration using conditions close to your own. Undulating land can make spray work hard, while paddy fields, tall crops and mountain terrain may limit ground machines. A useful trial should test the real field, not only a clear demonstration site.
Account for field efficiency and workflow support
A drone earns its place when it is flying and treating the field. Time spent moving equipment, mixing product, refilling or charging cuts working output. For that reason, the support set-up belongs in the buying decision.
A spray trailer can carry the aircraft and its field gear. It can also hold water, mixed product, pumps, chargers, tools and spare parts. A planned layout helps the crew refill and recharge without needless steps.
Look at the full turnaround process:
- How will the aircraft travel securely between sites?
- Where will the crew mix and hold the spray liquid?
- Can the hose reach the filling and landing area?
- Where will charging take place?
- Is there a clear place for tools, batteries and protective kit?
- Can the pilot maintain the needed view over crops and rolling ground?
Battery charge time can matter as much as flight time. The generator must also fit the transport plan and meet the needs of the chargers and pumps. Ask the dealer to show a full working cycle rather than an isolated flight.
Tank size changes this support task. A 20 L spray system and a 100 L spray system place different demands on water, mixing and handling. Maximum take-off weight also affects transport and the way the crew prepares the aircraft.
Dealer support matters when a spray window is short. Ask who provides training, where it takes place and how service faults are handled. Our Guides index offers more help with the wider planning work around drone use.
Match the drone to the compliance and operating environment
Rules can depend on aircraft weight and how the drone will be used. Spraying, crop monitoring and livestock work may create different risks. A legal set-up for one task may not cover another.
Australia provides a clear example of why buyers must check the local detail. Its aviation guidance says both size and intended use affect the rules. Complex work may include extended visual line-of-sight, beyond visual line-of-sight or swarm operations.
For spray work on your own land in Australia, aviation approval is not the only question. State or territory laws may set more rules for aerial distribution. These can cover licences, spray quality and equipment standards.
Chemical rules also sit alongside aviation rules. Confirm that the product label allows drone application and check the rules on spray drift. Insurance should cover both the operator and the aircraft for the planned work.
Aircraft weight deserves attention before buying. The Wingtra WingtraOne GEN II has a maximum take-off weight of 4.8 kg. At the other end of the supplied range, the Hylio Ares has a maximum take-off weight of 220 lb, or 100 kg.
Do not assume that training for a light imaging aircraft covers a heavy spray platform. Give the adviser the exact model name, planned payload and operating method. Verify the rules before placing an order and again before flying.
Use a professional opinion before you buy
Professional advice should come near the start of the process. The right aircraft depends on property size, crop type, terrain and the task. An adviser can also spot uses or limits that a specification table will not show.
For mapping, bring a sample of the output you need. State the crop issue, accuracy and area that the data must cover. This lets the adviser judge whether RGB, multispectral, RTK or PPK fits the job.
For spraying, bring the planned products, dose, crop and field details. Ask an agronomist to check flow, nozzles and the application method. Ask an aviation specialist to review the airspace and proposed flight pattern.
Then speak to the dealer about training and service. Check whether support is available on the farm, at the dealer’s site or through another contractor. Fast local service may matter more than a feature that does not improve the main task.
The final choice should link four things: mission, payload, work rate and support. Start with the field problem, then use verified specifications to test each option. That approach is more dependable than buying by brand, tank size or headline flight time alone.