Chinese Chemicals and Drones Escalating

Wednesday edition -

Price increases on chemicals likely - The 2025 report notes that prices are down compared to years past. However, with a 10% tariff in place for goods imported from China and the potential for additional tariffs for Canada and Mexico, the potential for increased prices exists. Agriculture

• It looks like prices could go up on many commonly used chemicals. The new tariffs almost have to increase some prices a bit because quite a few chemicals, like atrazine and glyphosate, almost entirely come from China. It could be mitigate slightly by lower demand, however, considering how dismal many commodity prices are.

There is a lot of drone talk in the news. New releases and high expectations for the future - Drone market growing - The global agriculture drone market was valued at USD 4.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow from USD 6.10 billion in 2024 to USD 23.78 billion by 2032 EINNEWS 

• The drone market is really heating up in the agriculture world. It could be a short term faze, but it seems likely to continue to ramp up. Since chemical application is such a massive industry in farming (for the better or worse) a new advanced aerial applicator setup is obviously very interesting.

New Hylios drone - Hylio has unveiled its most advanced agricultural drone system to date, the HYL-150 ARES, manufactured in Texas and designed specifically for heavy-use agricultural operators. The system introduces significant payload and coverage capabilities that could reshape how large-scale agricultural operations approach crop treatment. DroneEXL

• This one is particularly interesting because it’s one I would seriously consider if we were to get into the drone spraying business. Just need the finances!

Drones growing in use on farms but problems remain -

As the agricultural drone industry takes off, federal regulators struggle to keep up More farms are turning to drones to spray chemicals, but proposed bans and backlog of pilot applications is challenging the growing industry. WISfarmer

• Drones may be taking off in the spraying business but there are always going to be problems to deal with. Issues with government and licensing will certainly be something to pay attention to.

RFK doesn’t like all the chemicals - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to help farmers transition to no-till and reduce chemical usage.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services said he aims to collaborate with USDA and farmers on efforts to combat chronic illness and exposure to toxic chemicals.

“I don’t want a single farmer to go out of business under our watch,” Kennedy said during a Jan. 29 confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee. Lancasterfarming

• After talking about the drones for a while I’ll mention how many people, and some with quite a bit of power, would like to start cutting back on those chemicals. Its understandable. I know the value of what many chemicals can do and how much help they are to commercial farming. I also can dislike all of the chemical concoctions flying through the air and contaminating the ground. It will be an interesting transition.

I’ll stop there for today. See you this Friday.