Drones are becoming an increasingly common tool in modern agriculture, supporting everything from crop and livestock monitoring to field mapping, plant health assessment, and aerial application. As their use continues to grow, so do the coverage and claim considerations tied to operating drones on farms.

Nationwide recently announced new drone coverage options designed specifically for farm operations. According to Nationwide, the new offering includes property coverage for drone equipment, liability coverage for precision agriculture activities, and coverage for certain aerial application exposures involving chemicals and seed.

Agricultural drones can represent a significant investment for producers. Smaller scouting drones used for aerial imaging and mapping may cost several thousand dollars, while larger drones used for spraying or seeding can exceed $30,000. In addition to the value of the equipment itself, drone use can create liability concerns if a malfunction, operator error, or aerial application incident causes property damage, crop loss, bodily injury, overspray, or chemical drift.

For agricultural insurance and claims professionals, this development highlights how new technology can introduce new questions during the claims process. Drone-related losses may involve not only physical damage to equipment, but also documentation of use, operator training, licensing, FAA certification, pesticide application requirements, and the circumstances surrounding any alleged damage or injury.

As farm technology continues to evolve, insurance professionals may see more claims involving equipment, data-driven operations, aerial application, and emerging liability exposures. Understanding how drones are used in agriculture, and how coverage may apply, is becoming an important part of keeping pace with modern farm risk.

Source: Nationwide, “Nationwide unveils new comprehensive drone insurance for farm operations.”