Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine adoption patterns of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture and to evaluate farmers’ perceived profitability of UAV use for remote sensing and input application. Methods A statewide survey of 3,134 South Dakota farmers was conducted in 2025, generating 595 responses. Information was collected on UAV adoption, farm and operator characteristics, conservation practices, and perceived financial outcomes. To account for correlation between adoption decisions, a bivariate probit model was estimated to identify factors influencing the joint adoption of UAV imagery and UAV‑based input application. A parallel bivariate probit model was estimated to examine factors associated with perceived profit changes following UAV adoption. Results Nearly one quarter of respondents had adopted UAVs, with 18% using them for remote sensing and 13% for input applications. Adoption was more likely to be observed among farmers with higher educational attainment, larger crop enterprises, greater shares of off‑farm income, and soil conditions requiring closer management. Additionally, farmers who implemented conservation practices were more willing to utilize UAV imagery to enhance their conservation efforts. Among adopters, perceived profits were reported by 21% for UAV‑based input applications and by 15% for imagery collection. Conclusion While financial gains were noted by some adopters, considerable uncertainty remained concerning the economic returns to UAV use. These findings point to a need for additional economic evaluation and targeted outreach programs to support informed adoption of UAV technologies.