Illinois Arial Insights: Post‑Harvest Drone Mapping
- tami4308
- 9 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Find Compaction & Drainage Issues Before the Ground Freezes: Late fall, post‑harvest, pre‑freeze
When the last combine leaves the field, it feels like the season is finally over. In reality, you still have one big window of opportunity before the ground locks up: using post‑harvest drone maps to spot soil compaction and drainage problems while they’re fresh in the field—and in your mind.
Deep compaction and poor drainage are classic “silent yield thieves.” You often do not see the full picture from the ground until the next season’s crop is already suffering. Aerial mapping gives you that wide‑angle view now, so you can plan tile, traffic changes, and soil fixes before spring. Research from Illinois Extension and others has shown that compacted soils restrict root growth, reduce water infiltration, and can significantly cut yields over multiple seasons.
Drainage and Field Health
The problem: hidden compaction and ponded spots
After harvest, you know where the tough spots were:
The combine that consistently spun out.
The low corner that stayed wet.
The wheel tracks that stayed muddy long after the rest of the field dried.
Compacted soil sheds water instead of absorbing it, leading to ponding, shallow rooting, and nutrient loss. Poor drainage and ponded fields across Illinois have been tied to reduced yields and profitability, especially in wet years.
From ground level, you see pieces of the puzzle. From 300–400 feet up, you see the whole system: traffic patterns, depressions, and how water actually moves across the farm.
How post‑harvest drone mapping helps
A structured post‑harvest flight lets us build several “layers” for your decision‑making:
High‑resolution true‑color orthomosaic: A stitched, map‑accurate image of the whole field. Wheel tracks, harvest ruts, and ponding scars stand out clearly once the crop is off.
Surface elevation / drainage model: Using overlapping imagery, we create a digital surface model that highlights subtle depressions and ridges you might never notice from the cab. Even a few inches of elevation difference can explain where water sits and where it moves off too quickly.
Soil/residue pattern layer: Differences in soil tone and residue cover after harvest can flag traffic lanes, compacted headlands, and areas where crops struggled all year.
Overlay with your yield data: When we lay yield maps over drone layers, you can see the relationship between traffic, ponding, and production. That makes conversations about tile, controlled traffic, or conservation practices more concrete.
A simple post‑harvest checklist (before the freeze)
Here is a practical 5‑step plan you can follow in late fall:
Pick your window: Aim for a dry, calmer day before the soil freezes or snow covers the field. You want conditions that reflect “normal” post‑harvest moisture—not saturated, not bone‑dry.
Fly the field (safely and legally)
If you’re flying your own drone, make sure you are operating under the correct FAA rules (Part 107 for commercial work, or recreational rules if you’re just experimenting) and that your aircraft is registered if required.
Use an FAA‑recognized app like B4UFLY (or its approved providers) to double‑check airspace around your fields, especially near towns, airports, or other sensitive areas.
Remember: Illinois prohibits drones for any aspect of hunting or recovery of wildlife, and many state parks do not allow drones at all—always check site rules if you’re near public land.
Mark and prioritize problem zones: Once you have a stitched map, highlight:
Repeated wheel tracks and headlands
Low, darker areas that stayed wet
Spots where you know the crop under‑performed. These become the “short list” for deeper investigation.
Ground‑truth with a shovel: Take a spade or soil probe to the flagged zones. As Illinois Extension suggests, digging 12–18 inches gives you a clear view of any compacted layers, root restrictions, or smear zones from planting and harvest passes. Note how difficult it is to push the tool through the profile and how roots behaved this year.
Plan fixes for spring (and beyond): With maps and ground‑truthing in hand, you and your agronomist or tile contractor can:
Target tile lines or pattern drainage where ponding is persistent
Evaluate controlled traffic or changes in harvest routes
Consider cover crops or reduced tillage approaches that protect soil structure and reduce nutrient loss from bare winter fields
When to DIY vs. call a pro
DIY makes sense when:
You already own a capable drone and fly regularly.
You only need basic photos, not precise maps.
You have small fields close to home and time to learn mapping software.
If you go this route, be sure you understand FAA requirements, local airspace, and any nearby site restrictions; when in doubt, consult official FAA resources and check property‑specific rules. This is not legal advice—always verify with the FAA and local authorities.
Calling Illinois Drone Solutions is smarter when:
You want stitched, map‑accurate imagery you can overlay with yield and soil maps.
You are evaluating larger acreages or multiple farms and do not have time to fly and process it all yourself.
You need repeatable baselines year over year to track improvements from drainage projects or conservation practices.
You want a clear, farmer‑friendly summary you can share with landlords, lenders, or partners.
We bring Part 107‑certified pilots, planning, and processing so you get actionable insight, not just a folder of photos.
CTA: Book a post‑harvest map
If you farm in Illinois and you are looking at fields that gave you trouble this year, now is the time to capture them from the air—before freeze and snow hide the story.
Illinois Drone Solutions can fly a post‑harvest mapping set for your most important fields, highlight compaction and drainage hot spots, and package everything into a clear plan you can use with your agronomist or tile installer.
Ready to see what your fields are really telling you from above?
Book a post‑harvest map with Illinois Drone Solutions and turn this fall’s problems into next spring’s plan.
PM Flight Light (Humor / Light)
Title: From 400 Feet: 5 Times Corn Tried to Photobomb Our Camera
Some days, flying over Illinois feels like shooting a very slow‑moving comedy. Here are five times corn absolutely refused to stay in the background.
The Lean‑In: We lined up the perfect shot of a grain setup at sunset… and one last unharvested row leaned into the frame like, “Hey, don’t forget who paid for those bins.”
The Bad Hair Day: High wind. Late tassel. Every plant in the field was having a full‑on hair‑whip moment, and the drone footage looked like a shampoo commercial for corn.
The Selfie Crowd: We climbed to 300 feet for a clean top‑down map. On screen, all you could see were uniform little green squares staring back—an entire section of corn silently saying, “Tag us when you post this.”
The Surprise Cameo: One client wanted a hero shot of their farmhouse. Right as we started recording, a patch of volunteer corn in the roadside ditch lit up in the sun and stole the show. We kept the take. It was too honest not to.
The Season Finale: End of harvest, last pass of the combine. There, in the corner, stood a tiny island of stalks the header missed. In the video, it looks like the last cast member waving goodbye as the credits roll.
Even in late fall, when most fields are down to stubble, we still find little reminders of how much the crop shaped the season—and our footage.
If you would like your fields to star in the next highlight reel (with or without photobombing corn), Illinois Drone Solutions offers mapping and media flights tailored to Illinois farms, all in a safety‑first, family‑friendly way.
Need answers, ideas, or just someone who speaks fluent “drone”? Stop in and say hi—we’re always happy to talk shop.
Illinois Drone Solutions · 508 Mulberry Street, Cisne, IL 62823 · 618.673.2179