Among the most recent opportunities for drone work is seeding white clover followed by applications of NovaGraz™ herbicide. It’s a win-win for grazing programs, he says. “One of the first projects with our new drone was frost seeding white clover into one of our best hayfields,” Crow explains. “We had a great stand but within a couple of years, that field became overrun with weeds.” They couldn’t sell premium hay off that parcel. Eventually, they cleaned up the field with an application of DuraCor® herbicide and started over. Now, NovaGraz is the perfect fit. “We’ve been impressed with NovaGraz. It’s an amazing tool to have in the toolbox,” Crow says. “Everyone worries about their white clover. There are a lot of inputs involved to establish white clover. We were excited to try NovaGraz, and we watched it closely. It controlled everything we hoped it would.” Airborne Advantages White clover and NovaGraz go together like cows and calves. But Crow says drones really make the combination click, starting with seeding white clover in January and February. “It’s an amazing solution,” Crow says. “That early spring freeze- thaw window is ideal; we get excellent seed-to-soil contact. But you could never get into those fields and pastures at that time of year with a ground rig.” Convenience. Less water to haul (2.5 gallons per acre by drone versus up to 20 gallons per acre by ground for adequate coverage); nimbler than ground equipment. Reduced pesticide use. Treat only where weeds or brush threaten productivity. Ability to treat unreachable acres. Rough ground and steep slopes can be tough on ground equipment or downright unsafe. Applying regardless of ground conditions. Make applications when the timing is right, even when pastures are soft or slick, without tearing or rutting the ground, saving time. Drones can make quick work zipping around pastures to spot-treat weeds and brush.
Flying Above the Fray One of the most valuable services Monarch Drone Solutions offers is staying current on advancing technology, Crow says. From the newer, bigger, faster, smarter drone models to ever- changing regulatory requirements and new pesticide offerings for cropland and pastures, Crow relies on his local Corteva Range & Pasture Specialist to ensure optimum results across thousands of grazing acres. “Our goal is to stay on the leading edge of agricultural products and technologies and to bring them to the Ozarks,” Crow says. “But we can’t be experts in all those areas. We rely heavily on outside resources and appreciate all the knowledge they bring to our business.” See videos of Crow’s drones in action and learn more about what he sees as the next advancements in high-tech farming and cattle raising at RangeAndPasture.com/MonarchDrones.
Drones Offer High-Flying Potential Latest technology delivers more than weed control. Blake Crow was searching for a way to reclaim some especially rugged southern Missouri pasture ground. Turns out, he found it — and a start- up business for his son, Dakota. “We needed a way to better take care of some land we managed for my grandfather,” explains Dakota Crow, owner of Monarch Drone Solutions. “It was rough — too rough for ground application — and there weren’t many aerial applicators in the area.” Then, in 2021, a drone showed up in the shop at Crow Land and Cattle. “I didn’t know my dad was buying it,” Crow recalls. “Everybody thought we were crazy and that it wouldn’t work. We weren’t even sure it would work.” Then the results rolled in.
“Our mainstay is keeping everybody else in the air, getting parts, making repairs and staying up to date on the latest equipment and technology, along with the regulatory environment,” Crow explains. He estimates Monarch Drone Solutions has sold between 30 and 40 drones to private and commercial operators with each unit averaging about 5,000 acres of coverage annually. “Most of those acres are cropland, but pasture work is expanding,” Crow says. “Not many applicators are willing to do pasture work. There’s a great need.”
Birthing a Business “It was pretty special getting a piece of family ground in shape and using a new tool to do it,” Crow says. Neighbors noticed and asked if he could spray their pastures too. At first, Crow resisted. He already had an off-farm job and other obligations. Flying the family’s own acres kept him busy enough. “Plus, there’s a whole slew of legal
Considering Drone Applications? Tyson Dupuis, owner of Precision Aerial Applicators (PAA) in Montana, developed skills as a drone cinematographer on shows like Deadliest Catch and Bering Sea Gold. Then, he saw his first agricultural drone. “It only held 2.5 gallons, and there was no precision application technology yet, but I knew this would be my next calling,” he said. We asked Dupuis about what someone should know if they’re considering either investing in a drone system to treat their own land or hiring a service for drone applications. Here were his pointers: > Licensure is a must. Don’t be shy to ask to see operators’ licenses. > Technology changes quickly. Be prepared to make regular updates. > Expect quality service. Look for the same level of service you’d expect from other applicators. > Follow the rules. Ensure applicators follow all product labels and use recommendations. Keep reading at RangeandPasture.com/ DroneAdvantages.
hoops to set up a commercial application,” he says. “But the
requests kept coming in. Eventually, we thought, ‘Maybe there’s something to this.’” What began as helping a few friends grew to helping friends of friends and then a commercial spray business. When a leading drone manufacturer approached Crow about establishing a dealership, he launched Monarch Drone Solutions. Today, the focus is on sales, service and training, while he’s still doing some commercial applications to test new equipment and crop protection products.
Disaster Averted Crow says drones bring several advantages to pasture improvement, whether you own one or work with a custom applicator. Targeted application. Map weed patches, treat only where needed and then return to monitor and make follow-up applications. Where the situation dictates, drones work well for broadcast applications too. From checking cows during calving season to frost seeding white clover and managing weeds and brush across rugged pasture ground, drones are agriculture’s latest must-have tool.
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™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Under normal field conditions, DuraCor ® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Consult the label for full details. When using NovaGraz ™ herbicide, white clover and annual lespedeza exhibit some initial injury (such as lodging and loss of vigor) but recover. DuraCor and NovaGraz are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva.
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