In the heart of east central Indiana, the Collins family has taken to the skies, quite literally, with their innovative drone crop spraying business, Aerial AG Works LLC. The family’s journey into agritech began with a crash—literally. Aaron Collins, a full-time firefighter and lifelong farmer, recalls the first time he operated a drone. “The first time we had it we had done maybe about an acre, and it shot up about 80 feet into the air and shut off and came down and destroyed the drone,” Aaron said. “Turns out the radar system was bad on it.” Despite the inauspicious start, the Collins family has since soared, entering their third season of drone spraying and spreading.
The idea for Aerial AG Works LLC was sparked when Aaron saw a drone being used for farm work. Intrigued by the potential, he invested in a drone and began researching how to integrate this technology into their farming operations. “Everything I read said it is the future, and we wanted to get in on the ground floor,” Aaron said. The business officially launched in 2022, with Aaron and his brother John, along with Aaron’s son Harrison, at the helm. While Aaron and Harrison handle the drone operations, John manages the marketing and behind-the-scenes work.
The family’s fleet now consists of three drones, two of which are massive, measuring 11 feet by 11 feet. These drones operate differently from traditional ground-spraying rigs, offering precision application that can reach areas inaccessible to larger machinery. “We can do those smaller fields where some of that machinery can’t get to, and where there are woods and things making it hard for a sprayer to get to,” Aaron explained. The drones can cover up to 100 acres an hour and can also spread cover crops like annual ryegrass, oilseed radish, winter cereal rye, and oats.
Harrison, who also serves as a career firefighter, has taken a keen interest in operating the drones. He and his father are both certified pilots with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which allows them to legally operate the massive drones. “I’m usually the one flying them,” Harrison said. “Everything I do, I run from this remote.” The drones are equipped with advanced technology that allows them to map out fields and operate autonomously, returning safely when the payload or battery is low.
The family’s drones are limited to flying 400 feet off the ground by the FAA, but they typically fly much lower—about 12 to 15 feet off the ground—to ensure precise spraying. This low altitude has sparked curiosity among locals, with many stopping to ask about the drones and even requesting photos. “We don’t want people to worry about our drones; we’re never gonna go where we’re not supposed to be,” Aaron assured.
The busy season for Aerial AG Works LLC is mid to late July, when Harrison and Aaron work 12- to 14-hour days for several weeks. Despite the demanding schedule, the family finds the work rewarding. “We may never be as fast as a big spreader, but the accuracy that these drones have is amazing,” Aaron said. “What we do is something that an airplane does, but they’ve got to swoop in and we can go right up to the edge of a field, and we can cover 99 to 100% of a field.”
The Collins family’s venture into drone technology has not only modernized their farming practices but has also attracted a new generation of farmers who are more in tune with advanced technology. The only challenge they face is the unpredictability of weather conditions, as strong winds can ground the drones. However, the family remains optimistic about the future of their business and the role of drones in modern agriculture.
