How Drones Are Revitalizing Rural America: Two Videos Showcase Their Impact on Agriculture
Drones are transforming agriculture and creating new entrepreneurial opportunities across the United States, particularly in rural areas. A story out of Springfield, Missouri, highlights how drones are not just tools for innovation but catalysts for revitalizing communities.
Dakota Crow, the founder of Monarch Drone Solutions, is featured in two recent videos by DJI Agriculture. His inspiring journey demonstrates how drones are reshaping farming practices and empowering small businesses. Crow returned to his family’s farm after witnessing the potential of drones in agriculture, establishing a company that leverages this cutting-edge technology to improve efficiency and profitability for Missouri farmers.
Returning to Roots: How Drones Sparked a New Beginning
In the first video, Crow explains how his encounter with an agricultural drone inspired him to return to Springfield after college. Like many young adults, he initially left his rural hometown for the city, thinking it was the only viable path to success. But drones offered a new perspective: a way to build a thriving business while contributing to the local economy.
“I saw what drones could do and realized there was a huge opportunity to help farmers back home,” Crow says. He founded Monarch Drone Solutions, specializing in aerial seeding and spraying, and has since built a business that’s both profitable and transformative for the farming community.
Tackling Invasive Species With Precision
One of the most impactful ways Monarch Drone Solutions helps farmers is by combating invasive plants. Traditional methods of identifying and treating invasive species can be time-consuming and costly. With drones, Crow can quickly survey large areas, pinpoint problem spots, and spray targeted treatments with remarkable precision.
Using drone technology, Crow has reduced the cost of managing invasive plants to just 10% of traditional methods. This allows farmers to focus their resources on improving their yields rather than fighting costly battles with invasive species.
Cutting Costs and Boosting Yields
In the second video, Crow highlights the financial and efficiency benefits agricultural drones bring to pasture farming. Jobs that once took five days with a tractor can now be completed in a few hours with a drone. Farmers also see measurable improvements in their yields—up to 10% for corn—thanks to more consistent and timely spraying.
Drones even allow Crow to spray crops after heavy rains, a task that would have been impossible with traditional equipment like tractors. This flexibility ensures that farmers can adapt to changing weather conditions without losing valuable time or resources.
Revitalizing the Heartland
The story of Monarch Drone Solutions is about more than just technology; it’s about the people and communities it serves. The 2020 Census showed a decline in rural America’s population for the first time in history, and studies indicate that entrepreneurial opportunities are not a strong motivator for staying or moving to rural areas. Crow’s story proves that drones can reverse these trends by enabling individuals to build businesses that support their communities and attract others to do the same.
Agricultural drones are more than tools—they’re lifelines for rural economies, helping farmers reduce costs, increase yields, and adopt sustainable practices. For entrepreneurs like Dakota Crow, drones offer a way to stay connected to their roots while embracing the future.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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