Marshfield Drone Retailer and Ag Applicator Comments on New Rules Regarding Drones

Tuesday, December 30th, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

(Larry Lee, Brownfield Ag News) A drone retailer and custom ag applicator says new restrictions on foreign-made drones will not ground existing machines but will slow down expansion and raise prices.

According to Larry Lee with Brownfield Ag News, Jeramy Williams with American Drone in Marshfield, Wisconsin tells Brownfield the Trump administration’s order denies an Federal Communications Commission operating license to all new foreign-made drones.

“This will not be retroactive, so if there are any drones in the United States that have FCC licenses already, those drones will be continued to be sold and serviced, and used by its users.” Williams says the foreign manufacturers will still be able to send models that already have FCC licensing.

He says the government is trying to steer the industry towards more American manufacturing but, “It is going to take a long time to ramp up American manufacturing when it comes to, for instance, spray drones because there is such a gap. I mean, we don’t make batteries here. We don’t make chip sets here that those drones need to operate, so it’s going to take some time to get to that point.”

Williams says the U.S. is “decades behind” in drone development and manufacturing. Williams says the models that already have approval won’t be able to keep up with demand, which is growing exponentially.

The federal order impacts all foreign drone manufacturers, including those in Belgium, Germany, Brazil, and China and applies to everything from ag drones to children’s toy drones.

Williams says China-based DGI has about 90% of the agricultural drone market. He says the new rules will also raise prices two to three times as demand exceeds supplies while American manufacturers catch up with drone technology.

The American Soybean Association and several state soybean organizations spoke out against the new drone regulations, saying soybean farmers depend on modern technology to stay competitive, efficient, and sustainable. 

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