Aerial scouting for pest pressure, disease outbreaks, storm damage, and stand issues.
Drone scouting covers more ground faster than walking fields on foot. Operators fly systematic patterns to identify pest infestations (corn rootworm, soybean aphids, spider mites), disease outbreaks (tar spot, white mold, head scab), weed escapes (waterhemp, Palmer amaranth), hail and wind damage, herbicide injury, and emergence issues. High-resolution photos with GPS coordinates let you pinpoint problem areas and respond with targeted treatment instead of blanket-spraying entire fields.
Georgia & Southeast cotton defoliation expert
Southern Skies Ag Drone specializes in cotton defoliation, peanut desiccation, and corn fungicide across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina. Our 5-drone fleet handles soft Delta soils and sensitive neighboring crops where airplane applicators decline to fly. Defoliant season (Sept–Oct) books fast — reserve your window in July.
Drone ag technology & application services – Southeast US
Volitant Technologies provides agricultural drone application services and precision technology solutions to row-crop and specialty crop producers across the Southeast. The company combines drone spraying with data analytics and remote sensing to deliver prescription-based applications for fungicide, herbicide, and fertilizer programs.
National ag drone operator network & marketplace
Avary Drone operates a national network of vetted agricultural drone operators and a booking marketplace connecting growers with local certified pilots. Coverage spans the Southeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic, with operators available for corn, soybean, cotton, and rice fungicide and herbicide applications, as well as cover crop seeding.
GA · XAG P100 Pro HP fleet, peanuts, cotton, pecans & blueberries
National aerial services company with a dedicated drone ag division actively operating in Georgia. Fully licensed in Georgia. Operates fleet of XAG P100 Pro HP drones for wet spraying, dry spreading (fertilizer/seed), aerial surveys, multispectral crop analysis, and prescription mapping. Confirmed operations in Bulloch County peanuts and SW Georgia cotton.
FL · primary research & education hub for drone ag in Florida
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (Gainesville, FL). Primary educational and research institution in Florida for drone technology in agriculture. Led by Yiannis Ampatzidis and Wenhao Liu. Publishes regulatory guides, conducts spray drone research for citrus and specialty crops, and provides Part 107 exam prep and pesticide applicator training statewide.
FL Keys government · drone larvicide in remote salt marshes since 2019
Monroe County / Florida Keys government agency using customized drones carrying 7–8 lbs of larvicide to treat small, hard-to-reach parcels in remote salt marshes. Founded drone program 2019 under Executive Director Andrea Leal. Too confined for helicopters but impractical to reach on foot across the Florida Keys.
Fort Myers FL · FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program 2018 selectee
Fort Myers, FL government agency and one of only 10 entities selected for the FAA's UAS Integration Pilot Program in 2018. Uses drones for mosquito surveillance and treatment in extensive mangrove habitats. Has planned deployment of a 1,500-lb drone platform for large-scale treatment. Contact: Eric Jackson (Public Information Officer).
FL government · drone larvicide in parks & wetlands
Broward County government agency using drones with 15-lb spray payloads to treat mosquito breeding grounds in difficult-to-access parks and wetlands. Targets Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in South Florida. Pioneer government use of UAS for vector control.
Naples FL government · drone surveillance & larvicide application
Collier Mosquito Control District in Naples, FL uses drones for mosquito management, filling the gap between manned aircraft and ground operations. Conducts drone surveillance for mosquito breeding and targeted larvicide applications. Key contacts: Robin King (Communications) and Atom Rosales (Technical Development).
AL · comprehensive drone application across row crops, forestry & aquatics
Alabama-based operator founded 2023 offering comprehensive drone aerial application across row crops, forestry, pastures, and invasive species. Covers AL, GA, MS, FL, TN, AR, and KY. Services include cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, hay, loblolly pine, orchards, vegetables, and aquatic weed management plus multispectral imaging.
A drone covers 200 to 400 acres per hour with full visual coverage. On-foot scouting covers 20 to 50 acres per hour with spot checks. Drones identify problems earlier and across the entire field, not just sample points, catching outbreaks before they spread across the whole operation.
Early season stand count flights work best at V2 to V4 stage (2 to 3 weeks after planting). Mid-season health assessments target V8 to VT for corn and R2 to R3 for soybeans. Pre-harvest flights document conditions for insurance and record-keeping.
There are 10 operators offering crop scouting drone services in Florida: Southern Skies Ag Drone LLC, Volitant Technologies, Avary Drone, Fair Lifts Agricultural Drones, UF/IFAS, Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, Lee County Mosquito Control District, Broward County Mosquito Control, Collier Mosquito Control District, Coastal Agriculture Services.