The use of drones in Irish agriculture is moving beyond simply taking aerial photographs of fields and farm buildings. Increasingly, sophisticated machines are now capable of assessing crop health, identifying problem areas, measuring grass growth and even applying fertiliser, lime and seed.

For farmers, the attraction is straightforward. Drones offer the potential to carry out certain tasks more quickly, reduce the need for heavy machinery and provide detailed information that can help improve decision-making.

On Irish farms where wet ground is common, land is fragmented, or terrain is difficult, they may be particularly useful.

However, while the technology is advancing rapidly, there are important distinctions between what agricultural drones are technically capable of doing and what they are legally permitted to do in Ireland.

Growing range of applications

One of the most established uses of drones in agriculture is crop monitoring.

Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras can provide detailed aerial images of fields, helping farmers identify uneven crop establishment, drainage problems, lodging and other issues that might not be immediately obvious from ground level.

More advanced machines equipped with multispectral cameras can detect differences in how plants reflect light, providing an indication of crop vigour and potential stress. This information can help farmers and agronomists identify areas requiring closer inspection, whether due to nutrient deficiencies, disease, waterlogging or other factors affecting growth.

In grassland farming, drones can also contribute to grass measurement and paddock assessment, although accurate estimates of grass cover require appropriate sensors, calibration and ground verification.

Spreading fertiliser, lime and seed

Perhaps the most significant development in agricultural drone technology is the emergence of machines capable of carrying and distributing agricultural inputs.

Larger agricultural drones, including models from the DJI Agras range, can be fitted with spreading systems designed to distribute granular or liquid materials.

Potential applications include oversowing grassland, establishing clover or cover crops and spreading certain fertilisers or spraying biostimulants. Unlike tractors and conventional spreaders, drones do not need to travel across the soil, potentially reducing compaction and avoiding damage to crops or grassland.

However, payload limitations, battery requirements, weather conditions and the need for repeated refilling mean drones will not necessarily replace conventional spreading equipment. Their greatest value may be in targeted applications, difficult-to-access areas or situations where conventional machinery cannot operate economically.

Importantly, the aerial spraying restrictions applying to plant protection products do not automatically prohibit drone application of fertiliser, lime, seed or other non-pesticide materials.

Such operations must nevertheless comply with aviation authorisations, applicable fertiliser and environmental rules, and any relevant product requirements.

Irish operational authorisation

A recent example of the technology’s commercial potential comes from ZenaTech, which announced that its ZenaDrone subsidiary had secured operational authorisation from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

According to the company’s announcement, the approval followed a Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) process and covers drone flights for agricultural purposes. ZenaDrone uses its drones for missions involving fertiliser, lime, biostimulants and other non-plant protection products, including granular spreading.

It does not, however, amount to blanket approval for all agricultural drone operators or authorise pesticide spraying.

Each operator must ensure that its proposed activities are covered by the appropriate permissions.

ZenaTech sees the Irish approval as a foundation for expanding its agricultural drone services into other European markets.

Pesticide spraying restricted

Despite these developments, one of the most talked-about applications of agricultural drones remains prohibited under Ireland’s existing general regulatory framework.

The aerial application of plant protection products, including herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, is restricted under the EU Sustainable Use Directive, 2009/128/EC.

The directive generally prohibits aerial spraying, although it provides for derogations under specified conditions.

The legislation was originally developed when aerial spraying was primarily associated with conventional aircraft and helicopters.

Modern agricultural drones operate very differently, often flying only a few metres above crops and using rotor downwash to influence spray deposition.

Supporters argue that these characteristics, combined with precision application technology, could allow drones to treat specific areas while reducing unnecessary pesticide use.

A further obstacle in Ireland is the authorisation of plant protection products themselves. Even where an aerial application exemption might be available, the relevant pesticide use would still need to comply with product authorisation requirements.

Consequently, farmers cannot simply fit a spraying system to a drone and begin treating weeds or crops with pesticides.

Changes considered in Brussels

However, the regulatory position could change over the coming years.

In December 2025, the European Commission published its Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal, COM(2025) 1021, which includes changes intended to create a clearer legal pathway for certain drone-based pesticide applications. And in May 2026, the Council of the European Union agreed its negotiating position.

The Council acknowledged that some drone spraying operations may present risks equivalent to, or potentially lower than, land-based pesticide applications.

Its proposed approach includes drone-specific provisions, risk-assessment guidance and transitional arrangements that could allow member states to authorise certain operations before all detailed EU implementing measures are completed.

Ireland assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July 2026, placing it in a prominent position during discussions on the proposals.

Final EU legislation, national implementation and appropriate product authorisations would all be important steps before widespread commercial pesticide application could begin.

While 2027 or 2028 has been suggested as a possible timeframe for market development, no confirmed commencement date exists.

What farmers need to know

The Irish Aviation Authority regulates drone operations in Ireland under the wider European aviation framework established by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Drone operators generally must register where their aircraft weighs 250g or more, or carries a camera or other sensor capable of capturing personal data, subject to specified exemptions.

Smaller drones used for routine farm inspections may operate within the Open category, provided the relevant weight, competency, distance and operating restrictions are observed. The Open category is divided into A1, A2 and A3 subcategories, with different requirements depending on the aircraft and the circumstances of the flight.

Agricultural drones undertaking spreading operations require authorisation in the specific category, assessing operational risks and demonstrating that suitable safety measures, training and procedures are in place.

Farmers must also observe airspace restrictions, privacy obligations and applicable insurance requirements. Agricultural drones shall comply with aviation and agricultural rules. IAA’s task is to assess the aviation safety risks and as they stress in their guidance document on agricultural use of drones, the operator shall always use materials that have been approved by other relevant bodies for aerial spraying or spreading.

Opportunities for Irish agriculture

The future of agricultural drones in Ireland is unlikely to depend on a single application.

Instead, their value may come from combining several services, including crop surveying, grassland monitoring, targeted spreading and precision farm management.

For contractors, drones could offer an additional service alongside conventional agricultural machinery.

For farmers, particularly those working on difficult terrain or managing land vulnerable to compaction, they could provide an alternative way of completing certain operations.

Costs, operating capacity, weather limitations and regulatory compliance will determine how widely the technology is adopted. Nevertheless, the direction of travel is becoming clearer.

Agricultural drones are already moving from experimental technology towards practical commercial use in Ireland.

If European pesticide legislation changes as proposed, their role could expand considerably.

For now, the immediate opportunity lies in using the applications already permitted, while keeping a close eye on the regulatory developments that could shape the next stage of precision agriculture.