b'Farms FindOVER THE PASTthree decades, nothing has Solutionsproven to be a greater tool in the fight against food insecurity than agriculture technology. withThe paths that have been paved via genetically modi-fied organisms (GMOs), global positioning systems (GPS), and Dronesautosteer have forever changed the course of agriculture and the ability of one farmer to do moreproduce morewith less. These once cutting-edge technologies have become part of the From wet-weatheryear-to-year farming formula, no longerence both on the farm and in the com-spraying to timelywhat a farmer needs to be competi- munities they live and work in.scouting, dronestive, but what is required to meet returnEverything we do, we do with the on investment and balance the red andidea of empowering rural America, are not only provingblack ink at the end of the year. TodaysMoreland shares. I started this company their efficacy butleading technology advancements seewith the farmer in mind, essentially to give farmers leveraging soil microbiology andthe farmer more options when it comes paving a path for ruraltraceability with some even looking toto aerial application, because its the only entrepreneurship andthe sky or rather just above their cropsthing the farmer cannot control them-canopy, for solutions.selves; its an essential piece of the puzzle the next generation onIn 2021, the global agriculture dronewhen it comes to field work and applica-the farm. Laura Handke market was $1.07 billion, by 2030, a recenttion that a farmer cant control because MarketWatch report estimates the globalthey dont own their own planes, he agriculture drone market to reach $6.89says. But they can own a drone and that billion, for a compound annual growthallows them to do the work themselves. rate (CAGR) of 22.5%. A significantMoreland says that when he started growth rate considering the $1.93 millionAgri Spray Drones in 2020, he was looking valuation reported for 2015. And whilefor a way to solve the problems that he these numbers are impressive as stan- was hearing from customers of his seed dalone figures, the stories and opportu- business. Inevitably, there is a weather nities being shared from the farm fieldsevent that keeps ground rig sprayers out that drones are making an impact in, farof the field when its time to apply fun-and away overarch the monetary marketgicide. That dependence on aerial appli-value.cation bottlenecks the available planes and helicopters and some farmers incur Empowering Rural America damage and yield loss because of the Missouri-based Agri Spray Dronesmissed application window.founder, Taylor Moreland, is two yearsI had a good idea that the spray into helping his customers make a differ- drones would help solve the timing and 54/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2022'