2 good drones for Australian growers

We are all hearing about how drones can play a vital role in precision agriculture efforts to ensure better decisions are made throughout the growing season. Whether it's for compiling plant counts, assessing crop damage, detecting parasites and fungi, or planning drainage and irrigation repair, the below 2 drones are a good starting point. 

If you are curious about having some drone test flights on a section of your land, tryDrones For Hire - the largest online community of drone operators in Australia. You may also be interested in this article: 6 ways farmers are using drones in 2017

The SenseFly eBee SQ

This one is a 'fixed-wing' design. It can fly for much longer distances at a time than the quad-copter but needs to be moving forward continuously to sustain flight. SenseFly are very highly regarded in this industry. 

Great for
Generating NDVI maps of your crops - the sensor can determine crop variability using
the plant health algorithm called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).

Notable features
Can scan up to 500 acres per flight. 
Designed specifically for agriculture use.
Built-in multispectral sensor. 
55 min flight time, 3 km range, 100 kph. 
FMIS compatible.


The DJI Mavic ($1569)
This one is a 'quad-copter' design. It can hover in a fixed position for taking photos and can take-off and land just about anywhere. The Mavic is generally regarded as the best quad-copter available today regarding its versatility, features, and price. 

Great for
-Getting a general bird’s eye view of your crop 
-Checking fencing, sheep/cattle, water troughs
-Spotting feral pigs   

Notable features
Very compact – throw it in the passenger’s seat of the ute. 
Long range: flys up to 7km away, and for about 24 mins. 
Way-point navigation support.
Good 4K camera (higher definition than HD) with image stabilization.
But not very stable in winds higher than 20kph and not water resistant.
See video review

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