K&R Equipment’s Drones Reduce Chemical Exposure

K&R drones not only save farmers time but increase safety for local farmers. By using drones, the farmers are not exposed to chemicals as they would be spraying a field with a tractor and sprayer. K&R started spraying with drones in late 2022.

K&R was originally begun in 1993 by Randy Ristau and Kenny Koch. The company sold farm service, manure and feeding equipment. While the business was originally started in Fountain, in 2014 a shop was built in Preston on Randy’s property.

Randy’s son Tyson graduated from college at MN West in Worthington, Minnesota, in 2018 with an ag business degree. In 2022, Tyson bought out Kenny Koch and joined his father in owning the business.

Tyson could see that the drone business was needed. Helicopters were overloaded with work, and the helicopters didn’t work well on the smaller fields and rugged terrain in the area.

In order to become licensed to operate drones, Tyson needed to get a Part 107 license which was formerly called a Remote Pilot Certificate. He also needed a 44807, which includes an exemption for heavy weight drones and a P37 which regulates the dispensing of chemicals aerially. In addition, he needed a state pesticide license which included category B, general aerial. A class 2 medical (a physical) had to be undergone as well.

It took Tyson about a year to receive all the necessary certifications; now the process has become a bit more streamlined, but Tyson still tells people to plan for six months before they will get all their licenses. Most of the work is completed online.

When Tyson started using drones, K&R serviced 6,000 acres. This past year they were up to 20,000 acres.

Tyson has never crashed or lost a drone, but he was quick to admit there was a learning curve to flying the drones. The drones are basically fully autonomous once the operator maps the field correctly. Tyson uses aerial imaging to carefully map the fields. While he flys the drone he uses a trailer to keep a line of site with the drone as required by licensing.

K&R has six EA Vision drones. The 2025 EAj100 has a 12 gallon tank and a 100 pound spreader; the 2026 EAj150 has a 20 gallon tank and a 180 pound spreader. The drones with their 12-foot wing span can do between nine and ten acres with a load and cover 60 acres in an hour.

The drones can save money and definitely save time, according to Tyson. K&R also sells drones. The EAj150 costs around $40,500. Tyson estimated that the purchase of a drone pays for itself in two years. Farmers appreciate being able to use their own drones at the exact time they want the work completed.

In 2026, K&R sold 17 drones. Half of the drones were sold to individual farmers while the other half were sold for business purposes. Forestry work, land management and crop and pasture care are all uses for the drones.

Helicopters charge $17 to $18 an acre; drones are about $17 an acre as well, but provide less drift and better penetration. The drones are able to spray pastures for weeds and fungicide for row crops. They also can seed cover crops and spray fertilizer. Drones are now getting able to do bigger fields as well now.

At first farmers were hesitant to use drones. Early on the drones had a bad reputation for streaking. Now operators have learned to overlap 10% to get good coverage; in addition, the equipment has improved. Farmers have accepted drone technology now.

K&R not only sells drones and does drone work; they also do custom work, spraying, custom manure hauling, custom silage bagging and custom bale wrapping. K&R has a total of six employees including Tyson and his dad Randy. There are three employees who fly the drones.

K&R has sprayed north of Oronoco and near Ridgeway, Iowa – probably a 100-mile radius. They have grown their business greatly through the past for years and are happy to help farmers more safely and quickly complete their spraying on their farms.