Manawatu-based business OC Aerial is bringing the next generation of spraying and spreading technology to farms throughout the lower North Island, with drones now offering farmers a safe, precise, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional aerial application.
Managing director Alex Owen-Cooper launched OC Aerial in 2024 after recognising the huge advances in drone technology over the past few years.
“When drones first came out, they could only carry about 10 litres, which was fine for a couple of gorse bushes on a lifestyle block,” Alex says.
“Now they’ve reached the point where they can compete with helicopters, and that’s when we saw the opportunity to build a business around them.”
With his background in aviation, first as an avionics mechanic in the Air Force at Ohakea, then working on agricultural aircraft such as air tractors, Alex brings technical expertise and a strong safety focus to OC Aerial. He says drone spraying takes the health and safety risk out of aerial application while offering a highly efficient service.
“Helicopters are faster and can carry more per load, but unless you’ve got a thousand hectares that need spraying yesterday, drones are a really good solution,” he says.
“We can chip away at a job over a couple of days, get into tricky areas helicopters can’t reach, and work safely around sensitive areas like waterways and native trees.”
As well as spraying, OC Aerial offers spreading services for seed, fertiliser, and slug bait, with the ability to spread up to 150kg of product per minute. The drones can also handle roof spraying for moss and lichen control, and the company is increasingly in demand for its high-resolution mapping services. Using a multispectral mapping drone, OC Aerial can give farmers detailed insights into crop health, soil conditions, and land use planning.
“There’s a bit of hesitation at first because it’s new technology and farmers can be slow to adopt change,” Alex says.
“But once they see the results, word of mouth spreads quickly through the farming community, and that’s one of the strongest recommendations you can get.”
OC Aerial operates a fleet including the XAG P100 Pro, capable of carrying 60kg of product and covering up to 20 hectares per hour, and a DJI Mavic 3M for mapping and crop health analysis. All operations are fully certified under Civil Aviation Authority Part 102 and supported by GrowSafe and SiteWise qualifications.
Farmers are responding positively to the flexibility drones bring. They can operate in wet ground conditions where tractors would cause damage, spray right up to shelterbelts and boundaries, and apply exactly the right rate of product without overspray.
That precision not only saves costs but also reduces chemical use and environmental impact. “We’re really focused on sustainability,” Alex says. “By minimising ground compaction, reducing fuel use, and cutting back on chemical inputs, drones help farmers meet both production and environmental goals.”
Since its launch last year, OC Aerial has hit the ground running, keeping busy with spraying, spreading, and mapping work throughout the region.
The business is also certified for drone maintenance and inspections, providing a full-service hub for agricultural drones across the lower North Island.
Looking ahead, Alex plans to expand the team with additional pilots and mobile drone units to meet demand as more farmers see the benefits.
“Drone technology is getting better by the day,” he says. “We’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible, and I see this becoming a standard tool in farming over the next few years.”
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