BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, Sept. 25, 2025 -- As planting season begins across Brazil, farmers are facing the dual challenge of unpredictable weather and tight labor. Irregular rainfall, sudden heatwaves and heavy storms are making the timing of seeding and crop protection more critical than ever, reinforcing the need for innovative tools that deliver both efficiency and accuracy.

For a growing number of producers, agricultural drones are now part of daily life in the field. This technology offers practical solutions to long-standing problems by saving time, reducing waste, and giving producers the flexibility to act within shrinking windows.

Bruno Oliveira manages his family's farm in Minas Gerais, which includes 50 hectares of coffee and 250 hectares of grapes, and produces coffee, soybeans, and corn. He clearly remembers when his operation relied heavily on tractors for fertilizing and spraying. "When it used to rain, we'd sometimes have to wait two or three days before we could get the tractors in," Bruno says. "Now with the drones from XAG, if it stops raining, we can sometimes get back out there in half an hour." This ability to quickly adjust to changing weather conditions is becoming even more valuable as climate unpredictability grows.

Bruno first took an interest in agricultural drones during a visit to Agrishow in 2022. The precision atomization technology of the XAG P100 Pro stood out, especially after he had issues with nozzles in other equipment. "The main point was the quality, because with other options, I had problems with nozzles," he says. The result has been more uniform droplet size and consistent crop coverage, which has allowed him to reduce water use in his spray operations from about 15 liters to 10 liters per hectare. This greater efficiency directly supports improved crop health and yields.

The drone's design has proven ideal for Bruno's landscape. Its autonomous operation is smart and efficient, and the foldable arms make transportation much simpler. He can now move the drone from field to field with ease and access hard-to-reach plots that would have been a challenge for heavier machinery. "What used to take a day, we now do in an hour," he explains. This flexibility brings savings in both time and labor.

Another benefit is the reduced risk of crop damage. Bruno points out that during the harvest, "when the corns is already grown, we used to lose a little bit because the tractor would run over some of it. But with the drone, there's no harm done to the crop." Having the ability to apply crop protection products late in the production cycle, without risking physical loss, has led to healthier stands and better harvests.

Bruno has also started to use the XAG P100 Pro for spreading fertilizer and cover-crop grass seed. Equipped with an 80-liter granule container and the RevoCast system, the P100 Pro enables his team to finish these tasks in just minutes. This approach not only boosts operational efficiency but also prevents erosion between harvests. Protecting soil quality remains central to his approach, reflecting the multi-faceted benefits of using drones on his farm.

Switching to drone technology required Bruno to invest in new skills and new ways of working with his brother and an additional pilot. Ongoing local support, particularly from Timber, the regional XAG partner, has made the transition smooth. Bruno praised the drone's control system, highlighting how its sophistication and ease of operation have contributed to the team's overall satisfaction.

These changes reflect broader research from Embrapa, Brazil's leading agricultural institute. Studies there have shown that drones can generate real savings in water usage, inputs, and labor while also improving the precision of crop applications. This is a critical advantage as Brazil moves toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Bruno Oliveira's story shows how embracing innovation can unlock more from every hectare. And building on the success of the P100 Pro, XAG has introduced the P150 model to the Brazilian market earlier this year. As farmers adopt the XAG P150 at scale, with its 70 kg payload and higher efficiency, they are better equipped than ever to farm smarter, adapt faster, and thrive in a changing world.