The DroneOn Show

In this episode, Mike and Kevin fire up the mics on the porch outside HQ and unload the raw truth on crushing drone season like a man. Deer recovery is exploding— about 900 leads in just 7 days, 300+ pilots cashing in, and why 2024 is getting smoked 3-4X over. Thermal drone showdown: Kevin officially picks the beefier M4TD over the M4T for speed, flight time, and pro-level feel—rain-proof flying i...

In this special episode of The DroneOn Show, the wives—Karen (Mike's wife), Kaley (Jay's wife), and Liz (Kevin's wife)—take the mics to share what it's like being married to drone entrepreneurs. They reminisce on how the business started, their roles in the business, and balancing family life with busy seasons. From navigating their husbands’ relentless drive for drone innovation to supporting Dro...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, hosts Mike, Kevin, and Jason dive into the start of deer season in Ohio. From epic drone deer recoveries and farming mishaps to US-China drone drama with DJI tariffs, they cover it all. Plus, updates on the Pilot Locator Map, work-life balance for drone pilots, thermal drone scams to watch out for, and future drone tech like heavy-lift hauling. Perfect for dron...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Kevin, and Dennis explore using thermal drones for private security, inspired by the Charlie Kirk shooting incident. They discuss how drones could enhance security details and Overwatch systems, from spotting threats to aiding recoveries in rural areas. They dive into the potential of drones in modern security, sharing practical tips for integrating aeria...

In episode 26 of The DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Dennis from Top Cop Spray Drones about his 2-year journey in drone spraying. Wrapping up the season with cleanup, Dennis shares tips on tackling cover crops, dealing with dryness, and developing efficient loading systems for thousands of pounds. He explains why now is the best time to start—don’t wait for new models! Drop your thoughts on Part 108...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Jay, and Austin reminisce on untold stories with Drone Deer Recovery, using thermal drones to find lost game in rural woods. They share a wild anecdote of a search turning from deer to a lost hunter. From two-hour hunts to the realities of rural ops, it’s a must for wildlife and ag drone fans. Part 108 regulations are shaping drone ops—drone users, drop y...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Rhyan Syester of Veteran Drone Services at a drone convention. After 24 years in the Army, Rhyan swapped combat boots for drones, spraying crops and tackling rural challenges with precision in Trigg County. From learning drone tech on YouTube to aiding deer recovery, he’s building a spray drone business from scratch. Bold strategies for ag drone...

In episode 23 of The DroneOn Show, Mike, Kevin, and Jason recap their Vegas Commercial UAV conference trip, networking for new products like power washing drones and a $100,000 search and rescue device. They dive into DJI bans, Part 108 regulations, and deer recovery with thermal drones. With T100 release on the horizon, they urge listeners to get on the list. Be sure to check out the blog post (s...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Hayden Crum, a 20-year-old Ohio entrepreneur who launched Midwest Air as a high school freshman. From a 7th-generation, 5,000-acre family farm, Hayden’s spraying 100,000 acres with DJI T20s and Zagg drones, outpacing helicopters with better coverage. Despite a power line crash and Ohio’s drought challenges, he’s scaling to 30,000 acres and sellin...

In episode 21 of The DroneOn Show, Mike chats with Charles about starting a drone spraying business in New York, targeting fields of onions, corn, carrots, cabbage and potatoes. From picking up drones in March to spraying in April, Charles shares insights on navigating the state's strict pesticide rules and the divide between city regulations and rural farming. With discussions on urban control ov...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Jason chat with Taylor from Agri Spray Drones, the largest agricultural drone distributor. From overcoming a heart attack to scaling a family business with 40 employees, Taylor shares raw insights on growth, training, and the future of drones in ag. With stories of viral trailers and industry challenges, it’s a must for drone entrepreneurs. Bold strate...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin dive into the T100 drone's potential efficiencies, Part 108 regulations for ag applications, and the beef between drones and airplanes/helicopters. They explore drone bans, industry challenges, and why drones are reshaping aerial ag. Packed with raw tips, it’s a must for ag drone pioneers. Join the skyward revolution now!

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with Juany Mattson of Vortex Advantage Ag at a drone convention in Alabama. A former Napa Valley winery co-founder, Juany, 54, swapped $300 Cabernet for spraying 20,000-acre Texas ranches. With a viral trailer layout on YouTube, he’s building a one-stop drone shop, tackling prickly pear and rugged terrain. Chapters (00:00:00) - Drone On The Air (00:00...

In episode 17 of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin tackle DJI bans, battery management, and the grind of securing the first thousand acres as a newbie. They dive into Whitetail Research with thermal drones, T100 drone potential, and overcoming startup hurdles like confidence-building and field mishaps. Great advice for aspiring drone entrepreneurs! Chapters (00:00:00) - Dji Band (00:30:51) - Do Fed...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike, his wife Karen, and Kevin share the gritty reality of launching a drone business while balancing married life. Mike and Kevin dive into their hands-on experience with the new DJI T100, a titan drone revolutionizing aerial spraying. They discuss their spraying experience in Kentucky. From outpacing plane crop dusters to integrating drones into ag businesse...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Austin joins Jaden and Ryan at Deadwood Outfitters, where Chazak Rescue trains cadets in drone-powered search and rescue. From thermal imaging to locate survivors to dropping payloads in remote Idaho, they push drones to the limit—crashing one in a tree during a 2.3-mile test! Inspired by hurricane response in North Carolina, Chazak’s drone program, backed by d...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike rides along with Brent and son Griffin in Kansas, where they spray over 100,000 acres yearly with ground rigs. Testing drones on terraced fields, they hit 2,500 acres in three weeks, aiming for 600 acres daily. From T60 battery tweaks to terrain-following tech for tree rows, Brent hands the drone reins to Griffin, a young pilot eyeing a fleet. Gritty insig...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits with James Harris of Southern Crop Services at a drone convention. A corporate pilot who soloed at 16, James swapped cockpits for drones, spraying 70,000 acres on a 500,000-acre Florida ranch, including a 34,000-acre pasture job in a month. Starting with their first Unimog rig that sparked viral buzz, he tackles rugged terrain and FAA training hurdles...

In this episode of The DroneOn Show, Mike sits down with Jesse Bailey of South Alabama Drone Services at a drone convention. A multi-generational farmer sidelined by a back injury, Jesse turned to drones, spraying 9,000 acres in year one and scaling to 30,000 with two pilots. From fine-tuning 32-foot swaths for peanuts to nailing 500-acre herbicide jobs within a tenth of a pound, he shares hard-ea...

In Episode 11 of The DroneOn Show, Mike and Kevin share their mind-blowing trip to China’s biggest UAV expo in Shenzhen, home to 70% of global consumer drones. From power-washing skyscrapers to fire-suppression drones, China’s cutting-edge applications soar with government incentives for farmers, outpacing U.S. progress stalled by FAA’s 3-6 month delays and tariff chaos. They dream up a future wit...

In Episode 10 of The DroneOn Show, Mike meets a Ukrainian spray pilot and U.N. drone consultant at a drone convention. Discover how Ukraine’s drone boom, including a client’s epic 150,000-acre sunflower spray in three weeks, is revolutionizing U.S. ag. Learn how this pilot boosted blueberry yields by 3-5% on a 1,235-acre organic farm, mastered low-moisture crop desiccation to cut drying costs, and...

From Ground Rigs to Drones! In Episode 9 of The DroneOn Show, Mike catches up with brothers Zach and Gabe Martindale at a drone convention to dive into their spray drone business in Corona, Michigan. From battling pollen with ground rigs to scaling up with T20P and P100 Pro drones, they share their grind—covering 20,000+ acres, mapping fields with Mavics, and tackling tar spot on corn. Hear their...

Newbies in Ag Drones? This One’s for You! In Episode 8 of The DroneOn Show, Mike hits the road at a drone convention to chat with Trevor and Terra, a Utah couple transitioning from small hobby drones to running a spray drone business. From their micro-dairy farm to spraying alfalfa and cover crops on pivot fields with a T50, they share their start-up story, challenges with dry application calibrat...

In Episode 7 of The DroneOn Show, we sit down with Ryan McNally, NuWay Ag’s sales rep who’s on the phone all day with entrepreneurs and farmers! Ryan unpacks the common drone questions he hears daily—from T50 vs. T60x decisions to launching a custom application business and tackling concerns like licensing and training. From muddy Ohio fields to nationwide startups, get the real scoop on what’s dr...

Welcome to The DroneOn Show ! In this episode, hosts Mike Yoder and Jason sit down with Preston, owner of Pac Aerial Applications, to explore how drones are transforming agriculture in the rugged mountains of North Carolina. From spraying herbicides on steep cattle pastures to applying treatments on Christmas tree farms, Preston shares his journey of starting a drone spray company and the challeng...