Drones have a lot of potential for crop mapping, scouting analysis, and variable rate fertilizers.

That from Nicholas Gust with Alta Drone, based out of Lethbridge.

Gust says drones have some benefits compared to collecting data through satellites.

"You can pick when you want to fly," he said. "If there is some characteristic you want to see at this time, you can see it right away, where opposed to satellite you have to wait for the satellites to come and it has higher resolutions as satellites as well."

Gust says, his drone is different than the four-rotor helicopters with a camera most people have.

He says, his drone has a six-foot wingspan and can cover half a section in a one hour flight.