Steve Klute gave a presentation on the drone spraying business he and Paul Klute started three years ago.

Klute Farms Spraying conducted a flying demonstration with their drone.

Atchison County Farm Bureau members and guests gathered on Wednesday, September 16, at the Gould Peterson Airport EAA Hangar in Tarkio, Missouri, for the county’s annual meeting.

Following a meal and business meeting, attendees heard a presentation from Steve and Paul Klute with Klute Farms Spraying of rural Tarkio. Steve and Paul started their drone spraying business three years ago and recently upgraded to a new drone for 2026. Paul has received a pilot’s license from the FAA, flying certification from the State of Missouri in addition to a commercial applicator’s license to fly their drone. Steve manages the ‘ground crew’ activities which include replacing batteries, filling the sprayer tanks and providing visual surveillance of the drone operations.

The drone provides great flexibility for farmers in regards to timing of application and access to fields regardless of road and field conditions. Field mapping prior to flying the drone allows for the most efficient flight pattern for the field and also allows targeted ‘spot’ spraying as necessary. The drone flies around 10 feet above the crop canopy at a speed of 30 mph and a spray width of 32-36 feet which is equivalent to around one acre per minute.

In addition to regular maintenance, the drone requires firmware updates twice a month on average. Each flight is recorded and can be watched by the on-board camera, which is supplemented by the drone’s LIDAR and RADAR system to alert the pilot of potential hazards while flying and to maintain the proper flight distance above the crop. The navigation system is typically connected to 32 satellites while in operation and has a safety setting which automatically returns the drone to the ‘Home Point’ if the battery level goes below 5%.

Following the formal presentation, a flying demonstration was conducted and guests were allowed to view the equipment and ask questions.