Mike Pearson says drones have been around for 40 years now. The first one was a crop duster built by Yamaha in 1989.

However, technology has drastically improved since that first drone.

Now, chips and technology mean drones are most often used for imagery. The drones send back photos of storm damage in fields and infrared technology help farmers distinguish areas in fields that are lacking nutrients.

Battery capability improvements are forcing drones into the next frontier of spraying.

In fact, the FAA has approved the use of the Pelican spray drone. It weighs 1,100 pounds and can carry 70 gallons of spray. The Pelican can spray 240 acres in a hour and has a fixed wing span of 40 feet wide.

The Pelican is currently being used in Costa Rica, Brazil and the Honduras and may be coming to a field near you.

However, the FAA is reminding drone owners that a new rule will be come effective September 16 that requires all drone owners to have a remote id.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.