Wyoming Counties Begin Using Aerial Drones for Weed Abatement

MAY 6, 2025 |

Photo – Hylia AG-130 Drone – Courtesy Hylio Promotional Video

Wyoming counties are beginning to use aerial drones to combat invasive plant life.

Every county in Wyoming has its own weed and pest program designed to manage noxious plants and animals, such as cheatgrass and mosquitoes.

Sublette County is utilizing drone technology developed for Midwestern farmers to kill invasive plants here in Wyoming. Carbon County is working to implement a similar program.

Sublette County Weed and Pest Program Manager Lars Anderson told Bigfoot99 that the drones allow his team to effectively treat difficult to access areas with targeted applications of herbicide.

Sublette County launched its drone spraying program two years ago with the purchase of a Hylio AG-130 agricultural spraying drone. Anderson said using a series of GPS coordinates, the drone can autonomously spray a one-acre field before needing to be resupplied.

Anderson said spraying a one-acre field typically takes between 12 and 15 minutes, depending on the terrain.

The large drones, which require a Federal Aviation Administration license to operate, are gaining popularity among Midwestern farmers for crop treatment. Anderson said in recent years, western states have begun to recognize the benefits of using drones to combat invasive plant life, with Sublette County fully embracing the technology.

Anderson said he believes Sublette County is the fourth in the state to establish a drone spraying program, following Teton, Fremont, and Big Horn counties.

The Hylio AG-130 drone is equipped with two wide-angle radars, a built-in HD camera, and two GPS units. However, Anderson said the unmanned aerial vehicles aren’t perfect. Steep hills and large rocks can confuse the machine’s radar guidance systems. The drones also struggle around trees and other free-standing structures, often requiring operator intervention.

Additionally, high winds can make it impossible to fly the drone. Anderson noted that wind affects all herbicide application methods, not just drone spraying.

Anderson said Sublette County spent approximately $50,000 on the weed-spraying drone and another $50,000 to outfit a truck as a mobile drone base. While the initial cost of setting up a drone program is high, Anderson said the benefits justify the investment.

Anderson said Carbon County Weed and Pest District Supervisor Reese Irvine has contacted him about starting a drone spraying program in Carbon County. The Sublette County Weed and Pest Program Manager offers his guidance to any Wyoming county looking to establish its own drone program.

Anderson said Wyoming weed and pest programs are just beginning to explore the potential benefits of using drones to control invasive plant species and he is excited to see what the future holds for the technology.

Carbon County Weed and Pest District Supervisor Reese Irvine told Bigfoot99 that his agency has purchased a spray drone and going through the FAA registration and licensing process, which can take one to three months. Irvine wrote that he hopes to begin applying herbicide using the drone by the end of this summer.