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Plant‑By‑Plant Counts
Stand Counts & Early‑Season Emergence Analysis
Transform early-season scouting with drone-based stand counts and emergence analytics. Using high-resolution RGB imagery, multispectral sensors, and AI-driven crop-counting software, growers, agronomists, and servie providers can accurately quantify plant populations in corn, soybean, wheat, barley, rice, potatoes and other field crops (typically around 21 days after planting when plants are visible but before tillering begins. Drone missions can cover hundreds of acres in minutes, generating orthomosaics and emergence maps that pinpoint weak zones, helping maximize yield potential.
Faster Counts, Smarter Replants
Why Use Drones for Stand Counts & Early‑Season Emergence Analysis?
Drone-based stand counts eliminate the guesswork of manual sampling, giving farmers and agronomists a clearer picture of emergence variability across entire fields—not just a few flagged rows. High-resolution imagery and AI-driven analysis tools enable rapid, repeatable counts with sub-inch accuracy, transforming a tedious process into an efficient, full-field insight engine.
- More Accurate Plant Population Estimates
Drones capture ultra-high-res imagery over entire plots, minimizing sampling bias and offering population counts with greater consistency and spatial coverage than hand counts. - Time Savings at Scale
Cover hundreds of acres in a single flight, generating field-level emergence maps and reports in hours instead of days—reducing labor needs and freeing up time for decision-making. - Informed Replant Decisions
By identifying weak emergence zones early (typically within 2–3 weeks after planting), operators can evaluate whether replanting is needed based on thresholds and hybrid performance expectations. - Cross-Crop Versatility
Ideal for row crops like corn, soybean, wheat, barley, potatoes, and rice—drones help fine-tune seeding rates and planting equipment performance across varied soil and environmental conditions. - Seamless Data Integration
Georeferenced stand count outputs can be exported directly into agronomic platforms and FMIS tools, supporting variable-rate input planning, yield modeling, and season-long crop performance tracking. - Objective, Repeatable Measurements
With consistent flight protocols and AI-powered plant detection, drone-based stand counts ensure standardized data collection that improves over time, supporting benchmarking and trend analysis year over year.
Real Situations, Real Insights
Stand Counts & Early-Season Drone Use cases
Replant Threshold Evaluation
Determine whether underperforming zones justify partial or full replanting.
- Zone-Based Emergence Mapping: Georeferenced imagery pinpoints exact areas of poor emergence, helping operators weigh seed costs against yield loss risk.
- Crop-Specific Decision Support: Quantify emergence gaps in corn, soybean, rice, and more, using hybrid-specific thresholds to guide replant action.
Planter Performance & Seeding Verification
Ensure equipment is performing as expected and catch spacing issues early.
- Skip & Doubles Detection: AI-powered counts identify erratic seed placement, indicating blocked seed tubes or calibration drift.
- Equipment Fine-Tuning: Validate seeder accuracy across varying soil types and topographies to improve future pass efficiency.
Emergence Variability Across Soil Zones
Compare emergence by soil type, slope, or drainage to understand field variability.
- Prescription Zone Comparison: Evaluate how plant emergence aligns with variable-rate seeding prescriptions or soil zones.
- Topography-Based Trends: Assess whether low spots or slope aspects are impacting uniform stand establishment.
High-Value Crop Stand Assurance
Validate stand establishment in high-input crops where replanting costs are critical.
- Potato & Barley Stand Gaps: Spot emergence issues early in crops with narrow planting windows and high seed costs.
- Rice & Specialty Crop Coverage: Assess uniformity and detect drowned-out or bare patches before tillering begins.
Yield Potential Estimation & Early Modeling
Use early stand counts as a baseline for forecasting and nutrient planning.
- Population-Based Yield Forecasting: Integrate stand data with crop models to project yield potential earlier in the season.
- Early Input Planning: Use population data to adjust side-dress nitrogen or fungicide plans based on plant density.
Benchmarking & Historical Field Performance
Track stand count trends year-over-year to improve planting strategy.
- Multi-Year Emergence Analysis: Compare stand data across seasons to track planter upgrades or hybrid changes.
- Field-Level Benchmarking: Establish consistent data protocols for every planting season to refine operational decisions.
Find the right UAS for your operations
Stand Counts & Early Season Drone Packages
We have a wide variety of enterprise drone solutions to help you and your team accomplish your jobs quicker and easier. see our recommended drone packages below or give us a call and get a customized quote for your needs.
Mavic 3 Multispectral
See More, Work Smarter
Effective aerial surveying needs to see the invisible. That's why Mavic 3 Multispectral has two forms of sight. It combines an RGB camera with a multispectral camera to scan and analyze crop growth with total clarity. Agricultural production management requires precision and data, and Mavic 3M delivers both.
- 4/3 CMOS RGB Camera
- 4 x 5 MP G/R/RE/NIR Multispectral Sensor
- Up to 200 hectares per flight
- 45-min Max Flight Time
- Built-in Sunlight Sensor
- Centimeter-level Positioning with RTK
Matrice 350 RTK
Fully Powered to Forge Ahead.
An upgraded flagship drone platform, the Matrice 350 RTK sets a new benchmark for the industry. This next-generation drone platform features an all-new video transmission system and control experience, a more efficient battery system, and more comprehensive safety features, as well as robust payload and expansion capabilities
- Up to 55 Minute Flight Time
- 20km Max Transmission Range
- Multiple Cameras
- Higher Payload Compatibility
IF800 TOMCAT
Portable. Dependable. Deployable.
The IF800 TOMCAT by Inspired Flight features a lightweight, compact, and foldable frame, making it easily transportable and deployable in diverse environments. Its specially designed case provides ample space for batteries and payload, ensuring convenience and protection during transit. Professionals in need of cutting-edge aerial capabilities, such as infrastructure inspections, terrain mapping, or lidar surveys, can rely on the IF800 TOMCAT as a dependable and versatile tool.
- 54 min. Flight Time with 1.5kg Payload
- Dual Hot Swappable Batteries
- 6.6 lbs Max Payload
- FPV Camera
MicaSense RedEdge-P
High-resolution multispectral and RGB sensor
The RedEdge-P is the rugged, high-quality, powerful multispectral sensor you’ve come to trust, now with a high-resolution panchromatic band for pan-sharpened output resolutions of 2cm (at 60m) - twice the ground resolution of the industry-standard RedEdge-MX. It is a single camera solution that captures calibrated high-resolution multispectral and RGB imagery, with an optimized FOV and capture rate for efficient flights
- High-resolution panchromatic band for pan-sharpened output resolutions of 2cm (0.8in) at 60m
- Five spectral bands for multiple vegetation indices and composites
- Removable storage standard in CFexpress, enabling up to three captures per second for faster flight speeds, cutting down on time required to map an area
- Electrical and mechanical interfaces compatible with existing RedEdge installations with just a connector upgrade
Solvi
All-in-one solution for drone-based crop monitoring
Solvi offers a complete solution for drone-based crop monitoring so you can make better decisions about your crops.
- Monitor Crops at Plant Level with PlantAI™: Collect precise data on the number of plants in the field, as well as the unique characteristics of every plant. Use it for accurate yield estimations, insurance claims, or field trials.
- Digitize Field Trials Efficiently: With Zonal Statistics you can recreate the digital copy of any field trial in minutes. Generate plots, calculate statistics & export to SHP and Excel - all in a few simple steps.
- Spot problem areas and take actions: Understand which parts of the field perform better and which worse, turn them into management zones and adjust your inputs precisely with high-resolution prescription files.
Aerobotics Aeroview
Take precise action to achieve your optimal yields
The Aeroview® web-based platform is your centralized hub for farming with a range of tools and insights to optimize agricultural operations. From farm digitization to data analysis, Aeroview® offers comprehensive, end-to-end functionality. Farmers and their teams have access to plant-level insights and a suite of features to take timely and informed action, as well as reports for critical in-season and harvest decisions.
- Take action on underperforming areas: Identify areas with nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, diseases or irrigation issues earlier than ever before and track the success of your practices over time.
- Make every drop count : Achieving a good yield requires optimal water and nutrients for each and every plant. With our transpiration insights, you can respond to automatically detected irrigation problems, see the actual uniformity of your irrigation strategies and manage hardware maintenance more effectively.
- Manage and maximize your plant inventory: aAdvanced tree counting technology gives you full visibility of your plant count per block, per crop and cultivar. Easily find tree gaps and underperforming areas which can be replanted to maximize your production opportunity. Plan and manage replanting programs and get the best return on investment.
- Know your yields every season: Monitor the progression of the season and take action where your crop needs it the most.
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Get a full, personalized system built for your specific needs. Our expert team can assess your situation, and recommend the best drone system for your organization.
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Stand Counts & Early Season Analysis FAQ
What is a stand count in agriculture?
A stand count refers to the process of measuring how many plants have successfully emerged after planting. It’s a critical early-season metric used to evaluate planting success, detect issues like poor germination or equipment skips, and inform replanting or input decisions.
How do drones help with stand counts?
Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras or multispectral sensors can capture detailed aerial imagery of a field within days of planting. When processed through crop-counting software, this imagery provides fast, accurate stand count data across entire fields—saving time and improving accuracy over manual sampling.
What type of drone or camera is needed for stand count analysis?
For most row crops, a drone with a high-resolution RGB camera is sufficient for stand counts, especially during early emergence when plant spacing is visible. For additional insights like crop vigor or emergence uniformity, drones equipped with multispectral sensors can capture vegetation indices like NDVI. A gimbal-stabilized camera and the ability to fly low (≈30–60 ft AGL) are also recommended for image clarity.
When is the best time to fly a stand count mission?
Stand counts are typically performed 10–21 days after planting, depending on the crop and local growing conditions. The goal is to fly when seedlings are visible above ground but before canopy closure or tillering begins. For corn and soybeans, flights are often scheduled at the VE to V2 stages, while for crops like rice or potatoes, slightly later timing may be required due to emergence characteristics.
Can drones replace manual stand counts entirely?
In many operations, yes. Drones offer a scalable, less labor-intensive way to gather emergence data across an entire field. While ground truthing may still be needed to calibrate software or verify edge cases, drone-based stand counts can significantly reduce the need for repetitive field walking.
How accurate are drone-based stand counts?
Accuracy depends on sensor resolution, altitude, plant spacing, and software processing. With proper setup, drone imagery can yield emergence estimates within 90–98% accuracy compared to manual counts, especially in row crops like corn and soybeans, where plant spacing is consistent.
Do I need a Part 107 license to fly drones for stand counts?
Yes, if you’re flying drones for commercial purposes—including farm management, consulting, or agronomy—you must be certified under the FAA’s Part 107 regulations. Hobbyist flights are not permitted for business-related tasks like stand counts or crop scouting.
How low should I fly to capture accurate stand count imagery?
Most stand count flights are flown between 30–60 feet (10–20 meters) above ground level. Flying too high may reduce image resolution and make it difficult to distinguish individual plants, especially in crops with tight spacing. The exact altitude depends on your camera’s resolution and the desired ground sampling distance (GSD).
What file outputs can I expect from a drone stand count mission?
Typical outputs include georeferenced orthomosaics (stitched aerial images), CSV or shapefile plant population reports, and colored emergence maps showing plant density and gaps. These files can often be imported into farm management software or used directly for scouting and prescription planning.
Which crops benefit most from drone-based stand counts?
Drone stand counts are particularly valuable in row crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and cotton, where uniform spacing and early replant decisions are critical. High-value crops such as potatoes and rice also benefit from early emergence verification, especially in variable terrain or irrigated systems.
Can I use NDVI or other vegetation indices during stand count flights?
Yes, if your drone is equipped with a multispectral sensor, you can generate vegetation indices like NDVI to assess plant health and emergence uniformity. These indices are useful for spotting subtle variations in vigor that may not be visible in RGB imagery alone, especially when paired with plant-counting analytics.
Do weather conditions affect drone stand counts?
Absolutely. Avoid flying in high winds, rain, or overly cloudy conditions that could affect lighting and image clarity. Uniform lighting (such as bright but overcast conditions) can actually improve results by minimizing harsh shadows, especially during early morning or late afternoon flights.
How do I know if I should replant based on a stand count?
Replant decisions depend on the severity and location of emergence gaps, the crop’s yield potential, hybrid-specific thresholds, and the economic cost of replanting. Drone maps help by providing spatial data to quantify stand loss and model economic return scenarios, helping you replant only when it makes sense.
Can drone stand counts integrate with my farm management platform?
Yes, most drone mapping platforms allow export of emergence data in formats like CSV, shapefile, or GeoTIFF. These can be imported into many farm management information systems (FMIS) for use in variable-rate planning, nutrient modeling, and long-term crop performance tracking.
Is drone-based stand counting useful for small farms, or just large operations?
Both. While large-scale growers benefit from time savings across hundreds of acres, small and mid-sized farms can also use drones to reduce manual scouting, make better replant decisions, and validate planter performance, without investing in expensive third-party scouting services.
Helping you get started
Ready to build your UAS program?
Give us a call and get a full, personalized system built for your specific needs. Our expert team can assess your situation, and recommend the best drone system for your organization.