Operational efficiency and regulatory barriers influencing agricultural drone adoption

Abstract

Although American agricultural producers have opportunities to improve their productivity and decrease costs using drones, the adoption rates remain relatively low due to regulatory constraints and knowledge-based barriers. To gain an understanding of both the motivators for its adoption and the barriers to its widespread adoption, a survey was administered that gathered data from 50 producers, which included details on both the types of farms they operated and their utilization. Participants represented a generationally diverse pool, including Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964), Generation X (born 1965–1980), Millennials, also referred to as Generation Y (born 1981–1996), and Generation Z (born 1997–2012). They each completed a questionnaire that assessed the efficiencies gained in drone use and the primary factors driving their adoption (cost savings and reduction in inputs) as well as the barriers they experienced (technical expertise, regulations, and time). A chi-square statistical analysis resulted in a statistically significant (p < 0.001) relationship between the generational group of respondents and their farming experience. In describing their drone-related operational efficiencies, respondents used the same terminology (e.g., cost, spraying, training, and monitoring), indicating that producers prioritize operational efficiencies over maximizing revenue. In addition to the chi-square analysis, a personal diary analyzing the regulatory pathway to receive a university-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 137 exemption detailed the costs and duration (22 months) incurred through the compliance process, which provides evidence that regulatory compliance costs are prohibitive to its adoption. The outcomes of this research will provide valuable information to extension educators developing curriculum, regulators working to reform agricultural aviation regulations, and drone technology manufacturers seeking market-appropriate solutions for American agriculture.