Details for Drones

While drone technology is advancing, pesticide application by drone is still very limited in Canada. Only a few products are approved—and none for field crops. Health Canada must update product labels before legal use is allowed, with broader approvals not expected until late 2025 or beyond. Using a drone to spray unapproved products is illegal and may result in fines, legal liability, and denied insurance coverage. Drift is also a concern, especially in windy or uneven conditions. Drone operations are tightly regulated by Transport Canada, and pesticide use is monitored by Health Canada. Saskatchewan is developing a licensing framework for drone applicators, but it’s not yet in place. In short: drones can be flown, but using them to spray most pesticides is not yet permitted. Proceeding early can carry significant risk.