The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has unveiled its marked-up version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), offering a glimmer of hope for American farmers who rely heavily on DJI Technologies’ agricultural spray drones. Unlike the version passed by the House of Representatives last month, the Senate’s version does not include provisions aimed at curbing the activities of DJI, the Chinese drone manufacturer that dominates the U.S. ag spray drone market.
The House version of the bill had sent shockwaves through the agricultural community by incorporating amendments from the Countering CCP Drones Act. These amendments would add DJI to the ‘covered list,’ effectively blocking the company from receiving FCC licenses for future drone models and potentially revoking existing authorizations. The SASC version, approved behind closed doors in a 22-3 vote, will now go to the Senate floor for consideration. Should it pass the full Senate, it will need to be reconciled with the House version.
Adam Welsh, head of global policy at DJI, expressed cautious optimism in an interview with AgFunderNews. “As the SASC meets behind closed doors, it’s hard to know exactly why the provision against DJI in the House version was left out of the Senate markup,” he said. Welsh noted that there has been significant engagement from various stakeholders who depend on DJI products, from farmers to emergency services, and he hopes this influenced the Senate’s decision.
“As there are two versions of the NDAA, it will have to go to conference, and conferees from both the House and Senate will need to hash out the differences,” Welsh explained. “If the provision had been in the Senate version, there’s a very good likelihood that it would have made it into the final bill. Because it’s not, they will have to debate the differences and try to figure out the best options.”
Welsh emphasized the importance of continued engagement with lawmakers, especially as the August recess approaches. “We definitely don’t want to take our foot off the gas,” he said, urging DJI customers to stay engaged and keep up the pressure to ensure the final bill does not include restrictive measures against DJI.
The timing of the NDAA’s passage remains uncertain, with Welsh suggesting it might go to a vote during the lame-duck period between November and January. While existing DJI drone models would likely remain unaffected if the company is added to the ‘covered list,’ future innovations could be stymied, impacting the agricultural sector significantly. “If you look at the agricultural spray sector, we’re always looking to see how we can make our drones more efficient,” Welsh noted.
The agricultural community has been vocal about the potential repercussions of the House bill. Mariah Scott, CEO at Rantizo, highlighted the critical role DJI drones play in modern farming. “Without DJI, we don’t have U.S.-manufactured alternatives that are competitive in terms of cost or performance,” she said. According to DJI’s estimates, approximately four out of every five Agras drones used by U.S. farmers are DJI models.
DJI’s recent Agriculture Drone Industry Insight Report (2023/2024) underscores the importance of ag spray drones in modern farming. Governments in several countries have liberalized regulations impacting ag drones, helping farmers reduce chemical usage, save money, and increase yields. Removing DJI from the equation could stifle these advancements, impacting not just farmers but entire rural communities.
As the legislative process unfolds, the agricultural sector will be watching closely, advocating for a resolution that allows them to continue benefiting from the technological advancements that DJI’s drones offer.