From the Sky to the Soil: How Drone Technology Is Transforming Agriculture

Agricultural technology continues to provide farmers and ranchers with new tools to improve efficiency, precision and safety. From aerial applications to crop monitoring and mapping, agricultural drones are changing how producers approach work in the field. In Arizona, local company Luumar is putting this technology to work, offering a look at how innovation from above can make an impact on the ground.

Written by Holly Anderson, Agricultural Communications Intern

Agriculture has always evolved alongside technology. From modern irrigation systems and GPS-guided equipment to automated machinery and precision agriculture, farmers and ranchers continue to adopt new tools that help them work more efficiently and make informed decisions. Today, another technology is taking to the skies and finding a place in agricultural operations: drones.

Unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, are becoming an increasingly useful tool for crop monitoring, mapping and agricultural applications. In Arizona, companies such as Luumar are putting this technology to work, demonstrating how innovation can provide producers with new ways to approach some of the challenges they face in the field.

Agriculture Takes Flight

For many people, drones may be associated with photography, recreation or delivery services. In agriculture, however, their potential extends far beyond capturing an aerial view.

Luumar, an unmanned services company, uses drone technology for agricultural applications including spraying, dry spreading, imaging and mapping. The company’s agricultural operations are designed to provide producers with another option for applying products and gathering information about their fields.

One of the primary applications is aerial spraying. Luumar’s unmanned aircraft can apply products such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, as well as fertilizers. The drones can also be used for seeding, cover crop applications and fertilizing through dry spreading.

Rather than requiring a pilot to fly an aircraft at low altitudes over a field, unmanned aircraft can perform these applications without someone physically being in the aircraft.

Putting Precision Into Practice

One of the most significant advantages of agricultural drone technology is its ability to bring greater precision to field operations.

Luumar utilizes Real-Time Kinematic, or RTK, technology alongside GPS to improve the positioning accuracy of its aircraft. The company states that its system can enhance delivery accuracy down to mere centimeters by continuously updating the aircraft’s position using satellite data and a ground-based station.

That precision can be especially valuable when agricultural products need to be applied to a specific area. Luumar’s aircraft can automatically adjust spray rates based on flight speed, while its spreading system can be customized for different materials and applications.

For producers, precision is about more than technology for technology’s sake. It can help ensure that inputs are placed where they are needed while reducing unnecessary application and minimizing potential drift.

Seeing the Field From a New Perspective

Drones can also provide producers with information that may be difficult to gather from the ground.

Luumar offers multispectral imaging, which can be used to collect information about field boundaries, elevation and terrain. The technology can also help identify abnormalities such as germination issues, weed pressure and crop lodging. Information gathered through imaging can then be used to develop prescription maps for more precise, variable-rate applications.

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recognizes similar applications for agricultural drones. According to the University, drones equipped with different imaging sensors can provide growers with information that helps identify where irrigation, fertilizer, or pest control measures may be needed. Early identification of crop stress can give growers more opportunities to respond before a problem becomes more widespread.

This illustrates one of the most important developments in agricultural technology: data can become another tool for decision-making.

A drone may collect the information, but the farmer remains the one who understands the field and determines how that information should be used.

A Focus on Safety and Efficiency

Agricultural applications can involve challenging working conditions, particularly when products need to be applied at low altitudes. Luumar identifies crop dusting as a high-risk aviation activity because pilots may encounter obstacles such as power lines, trees, farm equipment and other vehicles. Its unmanned aircraft provide an alternative for performing low-level applications without putting a pilot in the aircraft.

Drone applications can also reduce the need for equipment to travel through a growing field. Traditional ground applications may require machinery to drive between rows, potentially causing crop or root damage. Aerial application can provide another option for reaching crops without driving equipment across the field.

Luumar’s listed maximum operating capabilities include applications covering up to 27 acres per hour in orchard operations and up to 153 acres per hour in field operations, depending on the application and conditions. The company also lists spreading capabilities of up to 3,306 pounds per hour. These figures represent maximum specifications, with actual performance tailored to individual applications.

Taking Applications Into the Night

Agricultural work does not always stop when the sun goes down.

Luumar offers nighttime drone operations, which can provide additional flexibility for agricultural applications. The company identifies calmer conditions, reduced spray drift and reduced photodegradation of products as potential benefits of nighttime operations. It also highlights the potential to minimize impacts on pollinators.

The ability to operate at different times of day demonstrates how agricultural technology can provide producers with more flexibility in determining when and how a task is completed.

Looking Toward the Future of Arizona Agriculture

Drones are only one part of a larger movement toward precision agriculture. Across Arizona, producers are incorporating technology that can help them better understand their fields, monitor crops and use resources more strategically.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension research notes that drone mapping can help monitor crop development and detect health or management issues, providing growers with information that can support more data-driven decisions. As drone and sensor technologies continue to advance, their applications in agriculture are expected to expand as well.

For Arizona agriculture, where producers face unique challenges related to water, weather, labor and resource management, having access to new tools can be an important part of adapting to a changing industry.

Companies like Luumar demonstrate what that innovation can look like in practice. Their technology brings together unmanned aircraft, GPS, RTK positioning and imaging capabilities to give agricultural producers another set of tools to work with.

The future of agriculture will not be defined by technology alone. It will be shaped by the people who understand the land and know how to put those tools to work. From the ground to the sky, innovation is giving Arizona farmers new ways to make informed decisions, improve efficiency and continue producing the food, fiber and products that communities depend on.

As agricultural technology continues to advance, the view from above may become an increasingly valuable part of what happens on the ground.

References:

Elshikha, D. (2023). Using drones for management of crops. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/using-drones-management-crops

Luumar. (2026). Agriculture. https://www.luumar.com/agriculture

Thompson, A. (2025). Drone safety on farms and ranches. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/drone-safety-farms-and-ranches

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. (2025). Flying drones on a farm or ranch. https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/farm-and-ranch-drone-risk-management/flying-drones-farm-or-ranch