Kansas Invests $3 Million in Drone Technology to Advance Precision Agriculture
Grant to Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems builds on the state's legacy as a leader in agriculture and aviation innovation
TOPEKA, KS — Governor Laura Kelly (D) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture announced that Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems has been awarded a $3 million grant to develop Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Systems technology for agricultural use. The funding, approved by the Kansas Legislature during the 2025 session, is designed to give farmers, ranchers, and agricultural retailers new tools to improve crop yields, reduce input costs, manage livestock, and expand precision agriculture across the state. Governor Kelly framed the investment as a natural extension of the state's strengths, noting that Kansas' vast cropland and grassland acreage, combined with its diversified agriculture industry, make it the ideal proving ground for such technology.
The grant builds on Kansas' deep-rooted legacy in both agriculture and aviation — two industries that have long defined the state's economy and identity. Kansas is home to a globally recognized aviation manufacturing base centered in Wichita and ranks among the nation's top agricultural producers. The convergence of these industries has positioned the state as a natural hub for unmanned aerial systems development. In awarding the funding, legislators pointed to the collaboration between Kelly Hills and the state's major aviation research institutions, including Wichita State University, as evidence that Kansas offers unmatched infrastructure for this kind of innovation. Kansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said the investment will ensure that Kansas farmers and ranchers remain at the forefront of the industry.
Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems was established in 2024 by Heinen Brothers Agra Services, a Seneca, Kansas-based agricultural services company, with a mission to bring advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous ground vehicles into the farming sector. The company works closely with leading UAV manufacturers and collaborates with the FAA, the Kansas Department of Transportation, and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks to meet the highest safety and regulatory standards. In 2024, Kelly Hills earned an FAA license to operate a 49,000-square-mile UAV test range spanning partial airspace across Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa — and the new BVLOS radar technology is expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of that range.
The announcement drew bipartisan support from Kansas lawmakers. Representative Avery Anderson (R-District 72, Newton), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Public Safety Budget, said the grant demonstrates there is no better place for businesses working at the intersection of aviation and agriculture innovation. Senator Craig Bowser (R-District 1, Holton) highlighted the direct benefit to farmers and ranchers in his region, while Representative Jo Ella Hoye (D-District 17, Lenexa), whose family includes three generations of ag pilots, praised the project's potential to improve safety and create new small-business opportunities. Kelly Hills CEO Lukas Koch called the investment a critical step toward establishing Kansas as a national leader in unmanned aviation, adding that the company is focused on commercializing UAS technology and building an internationally recognized testing environment that attracts federal partnerships, private investment, and next-generation jobs.
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