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Mitigating Risk Through Education in Agricultural Drone Adoption

Andrew Kness and Erika Crowl

Summary

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, are increasingly used in agriculture for crop scouting, mapping, pesticide application, and cover crop seeding. While these technologies offer potential efficiency and labor benefits, they also introduce production, regulatory, financial, and liability risks for farmers and service providers. To address these risks and support informed adoption, University of Maryland Extension developed and delivered a statewide, hands-on drone education program. The program consisted of in-person workshops featuring expert-led instruction on drone operation, safety, licensing, and permitting, coupled with live demonstrations. Participants were also presented with multi-year research data from Maryland farms evaluating drone-based spraying and cover crop seeding. Emphasis was placed on identifying operational limitations, regulatory compliance requirements, cost considerations, and best management practices to reduce risk when integrating drones into agronomic systems. A total of 61 participants completed the program, including farmers (31%), government agricultural service providers (30%), and private industry representatives (17%). Post-program evaluations showed moderate to significant increases in knowledge related to equipment requirements (88%), agronomic applications (90%), cover crop seeding (89%), pesticide application (77%), licensing and certification (82%), and field mapping and flight planning (79%). Participants reported an improved understanding of how to mitigate risks associated with drone use, including compliance, equipment selection, and appropriate use cases. As a result, 70% indicated plans to begin or expand drone use, while 97% expressed interest in additional training. These outcomes demonstrate that targeted, research-based education can reduce uncertainty and risk, supporting more informed and responsible adoption of agricultural drone technologies.

Details

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