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North Central Ohio | Owning a drone is as much about flexibility as it is about profitability. As a farmer and drone operator, I have done between 10-20 tests per year just with the drone to learn what I could be doing better (from Nitrogen output to foliar feeding, fungicide applications, etc). With a brand new drone, all in with insurance and legal, you would be looking around $55k without a trailer or truck. If the average going price for application is $15/ac, it would take roughly a total of 3700 applied acres to 'justify' it in acres only. This is where most people get caught up but there are other factors that go into this decision: application timing (can spray morning and night vs whenever a plane or applicator can get to you). I have seen between 1-5 bushel difference on corn just from that timing, aside from application right at VT vs R2/R3. Application Flexibility (You can try out different fungicides that may have a different price point, throw a foliar in some, streak a field, etc). There could be a bushel/acre difference in those product applications as well as cost savings in that. Just between all of those things, a drone very well could pay for itself sooner with numerous applications throughout the season as well as potential bushel ROI.
Used drones** are always an option for someone who is looking to provide applications for their own operation only. As a dealer, I only advise buying used drones from a dealer who has gone through and inspected it. Those are a lot more cost effective options.
Thomas
419-569-0751 | |
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