Agri-drones. Not as exciting as watching dare-devilish monoplane, biplane and chopper sweeps but, say promoters, cheaper in the long run and safer.
Elgin family flies drones, sells them too
ELGIN, Minn. – A fourth-generation Elgin farm family has seen the future: Crop-dusting with drones. They have established a dealership for $45,000 Hughes Systique drones that can sweep fields with fertilizers and fungicides and pay for themselves in two years. The Elgin family group — the Hart sisters Bekah, Sarah and Rachel, along with Rachel’s husband Joe – does business as ABC Drones. Their favorite model is 6 feet by 6 feet and carries 5.6 gallons of liquid for programmed swaths that each last about 15 minutes. It’s safe and cheaper than hiring a pilot with a traditional plane or helicopter, said Sarah. In fact, two weeks ago near Elgin a helicopter crashed while dusting. The pilot died. Sarah said farmers who once hired a pilot crop-duster once or twice a can save money and do it better. “With drones, we can spray multiple times a year, she said. “We can spray at different times.” Hughes Systique is based in Maryland. The drones are manufactured in India.