Last season was a stress test. Excess moisture early on kept ground rigs parked and retailers stretched thin. When fields were finally fit, everyone needed help at the same time. Later in the summer, disease pressure ramped up, rust showed up and timing mattered more than ever. Operations that could move quickly and apply fungicide saw strong returns. Those that couldn’t were left watching yield potential slip away.
That wasn’t a one-off. It was a preview. Weather volatility, tight application windows and limited custom capacity aren’t going away. Drones filled gaps when planes couldn’t meet the demand, ground rigs couldn’t roll or retailers simply couldn’t get there in time. In many cases, they weren’t a replacement; they were the difference between getting a pass made or missing the window entirely. When applications went out on time, the ROI spoke for itself.
“Last summer made fungicide application hard to argue with,” shares Nathan Stein, owner of Airstrike Ag and a farmer himself. “In fields we applied fungicide for rust, we saw yield gains in the 30 to 50 bushel range. Drones let us get across acres that would’ve been missed otherwise. As a farmer, that kind of return gets your attention.”
The Case for 2026
Heading into 2026, the technology is better (think XAG P150 Max), the workflows are cleaner, and adoption is no longer considered fringe. In agriculture, drones are moving from “nice to have” to an operational tool. It comes down to control, timing and return. That’s why we encourage operators to run the numbers first. Airstrike’s ROI calculator gives you a clear look at how a drone pencils out for your operational needs before you ever commit.
At the same time, labor remains tight and weather will always compress timelines. Owning your own drone gives you flexibility when schedules stack up and conditions don’t cooperate. If your operation depends on hitting narrow windows, managing disease pressure or staying productive when ground access is limited, a drone isn’t a gamble. It’s a tool. And like any tool, it only works if you’re cleared to use it. That means starting the process early, getting your N-Number and Part 107 lined up before the season is breathing down your neck. Start now. We can help.
That’s the part that actually matters. And it’s where Airstrike operates differently. Buying a drone is one thing–choosing the right platform for your operation and your objectives is another. We start there, matching equipment to the mission–not the other way around.
From there, Airstrike trains operators to understand their system, execute, and make real-time decisions in the field. When something breaks, we don’t point you to a Facebook group or leave you to yourself. We fix it. When questions come up mid-season, we’re in your corner.
Education, support and repair are not left to chat groups on Facebook, it's personal and adapted to how you farm and operate. They’re part of the operation. Because a tool is only valuable if it’s ready to deploy when the window opens. Airstrike has your back, from first flight to full execution.
Bottom Line
2025 exposed the weak spots in field applications. Too wet. Too late. Not enough capacity. 2026 is about closing those gaps. A drone is operational insurance when the window opens and everyone else is stacked up.
Mission comes first. Timing decides the outcome.