Press Release
NEW ZEALAND – July 09, 2026 – Farming has never been an industry that jumps on every new idea. Most growers would probably agree with that. They ask questions first, watch how something performs, and usually want to see real results before changing the way they’ve worked for years.
Drone spraying has followed a pretty similar path.
When vineyard managers first started hearing about agricultural drones, many wondered whether they were simply another piece of technology looking for a problem to solve. Today the questions are different. The interest is there, but so are a few misconceptions that haven’t really gone away.
According to Agri Drone Specialists, those assumptions often make growers hesitant, even when drone spraying could be a useful fit for particular parts of their vineyard.
One of the biggest myths is that drone spraying is only worthwhile on large vineyards.
It sounds reasonable enough, but in practice it doesn’t really work that way.
Some smaller vineyards have steep blocks, awkward corners or areas that are difficult for larger machinery to access comfortably. On the other hand, there are large vineyards where conventional equipment remains the most practical choice for much of the work. Size matters, certainly, but it’s rarely the only thing driving the decision.
“We usually start by asking about the vineyard itself, not the drone,” said Agri Drone Specialists. “How is the property laid out? Are there steep sections? What’s creating the biggest challenge right now? Those conversations tell us a lot more than simply knowing how many hectares a vineyard covers.”
Another misunderstanding is that drones are expected to replace conventional sprayers completely.
That isn’t really what’s happening across the industry.
Most vineyard managers aren’t looking to replace equipment that’s already working well. They’re looking for flexibility. There are situations where ground sprayers continue to be the obvious choice, and there are others where drone spraying can help solve a very specific problem. One approach doesn’t automatically cancel out the other.
The company says another myth comes from the idea that flying a drone simply means spraying everything underneath it.
In reality, quite a bit of planning happens before any flight begins.
Application zones need to be mapped. Flight paths are planned carefully. Weather conditions have to be checked. Product rates are confirmed before work starts. Looking at a drone in the air, it’s easy to think the job begins there. It doesn’t. Most of the preparation has already happened by then.
