Crop spraying
Farm Worker · Field Crop Farming
“Crop spraying” (Farm Worker) was largely replaced by AI in 2024, after AI entered in 2016.
AI enters
2016
Largely replaced
2024
Replacement progress
100%
Technology / key factor
Spraying drones
What this task is
Farmers regularly spray pesticides and foliar fertilizer on crops, traditionally walking the fields with backpack sprayers. It is heavy work and carries a real risk of chemical poisoning.
How AI replaces it
Spraying drones spread rapidly from 2016, flying preset routes and applying measured doses far faster than people. By 2024, field-crop spraying is mostly done by drones and self-propelled sprayers.
What stays human
Farmers or professional drone pilots plan flight routes, mix chemicals in the right proportions, decide when to spray and maintain the drones. Many now earn a living offering spraying services.
Other Field Crop Farming tasks
All Farm Worker tasks →Pest and disease identificationBeing replaced
2019 → 2027 · AI image recognition
Plowing and sowingBeing replaced
2015 → 2028 · GNSS-guided autonomous tractors
HarvestingBeing replaced
2018 → 2030 · Autonomous harvesters
Farm management decisionsWill be replaced
2028 → 2038 · Agricultural AI models + remote sensing