When farmers invest in technology, the big question is: Will it pay off? With the DJI Mavic 3M, the answer is often a resounding yes. Here’s a step-by-step calculation example to show how quickly this multispectral drone can return its cost.
1. The Investment
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Drone cost (Mavic 3M + RTK): ~ $7,000 CAD
2. Annual Benefits
A) Savings on Inputs
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Farm size: 500 acres
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Average pesticide/fertilizer cost: $40/acre
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Potential reduction with drone insights: 10%
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Savings = 500 × $40 × 10% = $20,000
B) Increased Yield
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Crop: Corn
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Average yield: 180 bushels/acre
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Farm size: 500 acres
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Crop price: $6/bushel
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Value of total harvest: 500 × 180 × $6 = $540,000
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Improvement from better data: 3% yield increase
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Extra revenue = $540,000 × 3% = $16,200
C) Labor Savings
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Traditional scouting: ~100 hours/season
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Drone scouting: ~50 hours saved
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Labor rate: $25/hour
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Savings = 50 × $25 = $1,250
3. Total Annual Value
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Input Savings: $20,000
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Yield Increase: $16,200
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Labor Savings: $1,250
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Total = $37,450
4. ROI & Payback Period
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Investment: $7,000
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Annual Benefit: $37,450
Payback Period = $7,000 ÷ $37,450 = 0.19 years (≈ 2 months)
ROI (Year 1) = ($37,450 − $7,000) ÷ $7,000 × 100 = 435%
5. Long-Term ROI
The drone lasts 3–5 years with proper care. Assuming $1,000/year in maintenance/software costs:
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5-Year ROI = (($37,450 − $1,000) × 5 − $7,000) ÷ $7,000 × 100
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= 2,500%+ return over 5 years
Bottom Line
With just modest improvements in efficiency and yield, the DJI Mavic 3M pays for itself in a single season. Over its lifetime, it becomes one of the highest-ROI tools a farmer can buy.
🌱 Want to run your own numbers?
Ask SpeedyDrone Canada for a free ROI consultation and see how fast the Mavic 3M can transform your bottom line.
drone ROI, agricultural drone cost, saving money with drones, increasing farm yield with technology. #SpeedyDrone
