From farm to sky: Brothers build ag drone business

GREENCASTLE, Ind. — What began as a way to better understand their own crops has grown into a business serving farmers across Indiana and the Midwest.

Brothers Jonathan and Noah Poynter are marking five years of running Poynter Aerial Ag, a custom drone application and sales business based in Putnam County.

The turning point came in 2021, when advances in drone technology made farm-scale application practical.

“The drones were small when they first came out,” Noah recalled. “Dad saw a T30 from DJI, and he prompted us to look into it. It was the first one we thought was big enough that we could make use of on our farm — not just for trials, but actually getting across acres. It’s grown from there.”

Poynter Aerial Ag operates on two fronts: custom application series and drone sales.

The brothers work directly with farmers to select spray drone systems based on acreage, crops and application goals, while also providing training, flight planning guidance and support to ensure FAA-compliant use.

The company also assists customers with maintenance, software updates and integrating drone data into broader farm management plans — including coverage mapping and spray record-keeping.

Noah said continued improvements in technology will make drones more efficient and capable in the future, helping farmers manage their land and inputs resourcefully.

Learn more about the company at www.poynteraerialag.com.