Survey Explores Grower Adoption of Drones in Row Cropping

A new national study reveals some bullish baseline trends regarding how American farmers are approaching agricultural drone technology and related equipment as an emerging cornerstone of crop production.

The research, titled Farmer Perceptions of Agricultural Drones, surveyed full-time, large-scale row crop farmers across the U.S., highlighting both the adoption drivers and resistance points for producers.

“Farmers told us that drones or drone services are becoming a core piece of their operational infrastructure,” said Cam Camfield, CEO of Stratovation Group, which conducted the survey. “This research separates the real-life field-level signals from the industry hype. It spotlights what’s actually accelerating or hindering adoption by farmers at the ground level.”

Several key findings from the survey signal a high degree of market momentum for the agricultural drone sector:

• Perception drives value: Drone owners have a very positive perception of drones, with 67 percent expressing positive impressions and none having negative perceptions.
• A majority of current drone users (72 percent) say they plan to purchase or lease a new drone in the future, with 53 percent indicating they would do so within the next three years.
• More than half of current non-drone users (61 percent) indicate they also plan to purchase or lease a new agricultural drone in the future, with 30 percent indicating that would occur within the next three years, which indicates a widening gateway to mainstream adoption.
• The market continues to be wide open since more than 67 percent of respondents indicated they currently do not use drones of any type on their farm.
• Of the farmers currently using drones, the most common drone type by far was multi-rotor drones at 89%.

“What stood out wasn’t just the current use,” Camfield said. “It was the depth of future intent, even among farmers who haven’t yet made the leap. The expressed appetite to expand is real, and the pattern suggests the emergence of full-scale drone programs on farms, not just one-off experiments.”

The research was sponsored by SweetWater Technologies, Agri Spray Drones, the National Corn Growers Association, and Syngenta. Several other partners were involved: CropLife America, The Fertilizer Institute, the Agricultural Retailers Association, and D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services.

The research, conducted in the third quarter of 2025, was based on a 20-minute online survey comprising 83 detailed questions. It intentionally balanced responses between current drone users and non-users to ensure a well-rounded perspective. The study explored a wide range of topics, including farmer perceptions of drone technology, barriers to adoption, brand preferences, future purchasing plans, and specific technical concerns shaping decision-making at the field level.

Stratovation Group is making the comprehensive research package, including raw data, insights, and visual cross-tabs, available for purchase. The full dataset includes cross-tabulations, longitudinal comparisons, and insights into brand favorability and usage trends. Interested stakeholders can learn about securing full access to the research by contacting Camfield at [email protected].