Ah, the off-season—the time of year when you’re not looking out over a field waiting for your drone to return for the recharge/refill before going back out again. While it’s tempting to cling to your couch with a glass of eggnog next to the fire place, there are actually a plethora of productive things you can do as an Ag drone operator during this downtime. So, dust off that controller and let’s dive into ways to make the most of your off-season!
5 things to consider as an aerial applicator in the off-season:
- Find new ways to make money with your equipment:
Just because crop spraying season is over, that doesn’t mean you have to let your equipment sit and collect dust. In fact, off-season is prime time for certain other operations. Knowing what jobs can be preformed by spray drones could be the difference between having a good year vs a great year. Here are a few ideas to keep your operations going:- Solar farm, windmill, and power plant cleaning.
- Right of way work for railroads and powerlines
- Snow removal
- Forestry and aquatic work
- Governmental contracts
- Upgrade your skills with training courses
The off-season isn’t just a time for rest; it’s also perfect for learn about any new ways of doing flight operations or sharpening your skills as a professional aerial applicator. There are multiple courses coming to the forefront that could have an impact on your insurance premiums! The thing to remember is that you’ll need to follow the rules and regulations of the FAA for training. You can only be trained by someone if you are an employee of that operation.- Farm-I-Tude – This is a non-profit educational program that is educating new pilots in over 3000 high schools. They have a great curriculum and have been underwriter approved for over 4 years!
- Training under a franchise as a franchisee.
- Maintenance training courses
- More companies are expected to enter into this space this year! Give us a call to discuss
- Networking and Collaboration
The offseason might be the end of the crop spraying season but it’s just the beginning of show season! There are many shows coming up where you can see the new drones coming out and hear directly from the manufactures and distributors selling them. Here are a few to keep an eye out for:- The End User Drone Conference (01/25 – 01/29)
- This year will be the 4th annual convention and is the biggest show for Ag drones specifically. This is always well attended and is attended by all the major players in this industry. This year will be in Kansas City and I (Vaughn Tolbert) will be speaking again for the 4th year straight!
- NAAA State Conventions
- The National Agricultural Aviation Association is a long standing organization who advocates for Part 137 operations on a national basis. There are multiple state conventions coming up at the beginning of the year and would be good insight for anyone looking to attend.
- National Farm Shows
- There are multiple state show every year and we won’t list them all; but here are some of the bigger ones to keep an eye out for:
- 2025 Nebraska Ag Expo (12/09 – 12/11) Lincoln, NE
- 2026 Iowa Ag Expo (02/03 – 02/05) Des Moines, IA
- 2026 World Ag Expo (02/10 – 02/12) Tulare, CA
- 2026 National Farm Machinery Show (02/11 – 02/14) Louisville, KY
- 2026 Commodity Classic (03/10 – 03/12) San Antonio, TX
- There are multiple state show every year and we won’t list them all; but here are some of the bigger ones to keep an eye out for:
- The End User Drone Conference (01/25 – 01/29)
- Learn about new technology coming out
Just like every year, there seems to be bigger and better technology coming out! Whether you are looking to get a newer model of the same drone manufacture, or looking to upgrade to a larger drone, there are many new options to choose from this year. Here are a few new models coming out to keep an eye on:- EA Vision J-150
- Talos T-60X
- DJI Agras T-100 & Agras T-25P
- Hylio HYL-150
- Ceres Air C31 (Black Betty)
- XAG P150 Pro
- Raptor Vector HD580
- Revolution series
- Central UAS Technologies PrecisionVision 100x
- ABZ L series and S series drones
- DMR Field Ranger series
- Exedy Series
- More to come!
- Stay compliant with regulations and keep updated on politics
Regulations might feel like that weird aunt who shows up unannounced, but just like her, they’re something you cannot ignore. The off-season is a good time to ensure that you’re compliant, especially when it comes to your drone operations:- Brush up on the FAA regulations and state laws relevant to agricultural spray applications.
- Keep your records up to date. Because nothing says “we didn’t plan well” like a sudden compliance audit!
- Ask your dealer or insurance agent about Part 108 and whether you should be worried about the DJI drone ban.
How to maximize your insurance policy in during the off-season
Aerial application insurance is a niche within a niche. Here at VT Insurance Agency, we train all our agents to educate our customers first, and write their insurance policy second. Not only will you need to comply with all applicable rules that your flight operations require, you’ll also want to know how you can save money in your premiums. Here are a few helpful tips to make sure you’re covered properly while also planning ahead.
- The best time to start an insurance policy is in the off-season: All aerial application insurance policies are annualized and subject to an Ag Short rate.(See other blogs to learn more). That means your total annual premium will be fully earned after the first 120 days and any new equipment added to your fleet in the middle of your policy will be added subject to that Ag Short Rate. By getting a policy at the end of your season, you’ll likely have revenue from the season you just sprayed and will be able to eat the cost of insurance more easily. Furthermore, if you did need to add more drones to your policy in the middle of your season, you should be in line with your renewal window where VT Insurance can typically add your equipment at a fraction of the cost pro-rata vs. short rate due to our strong relationships with our insurance partners.
- Get updates to your insurance agent: We have been working hard behind the scenes to get premiums reduced for experienced pilots! in the last 12 months, we have successfully been able to negotiate between 10% – 30% savings for operators with clean records and higher pilot experience. Some key factors that go into cost savings are properly using flight log-books, training, and proper maintenance and storage of your equipment.
Pro Tips & Best Practices
- Optimize the Off-Season: Fly your drone for recreational purposes within legal limits—after all, practice makes perfect!
- Engage with Your Community: Join local agricultural forums or social media pages. Consider joining U-Pass as it is the nations largest Ag drone pilot association!
- Plan Ahead: Utilize this time to brainstorm partnerships with local farmers and co-ops. Think of it as a “what can we do together?” exercise, which overall strengthens your network.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Just because the crops aren’t on the rise doesn’t mean your agricultural drone can’t be in the spotlight! Use the off-season to prepare, maintain, and enhance your drone operations for the upcoming season. Remember, a good drone pilot is always learning, adapting, and offering services that can make their customers lives easier.
So while you’re applying the above tips, don’t forget to check out your insurance coverage with VT Insurance Agency. We’ll help you ensure you’re protected properly with our experience team of Ag drone insurance experts!
Ready to take your drone insurance to new heights? Contact us today to review your policy and ensure you’re ready for success come planting season! 🌱🚁
