Mississippi State research prompts FAA review as drones expand in agriculture

Mississippi State University research has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to review and revise some drone regulations, WCBI reported Oct. 23, 2026.

WCBI’s report from Columbus, Miss., says drones are being used across the business world and are increasingly employed in agriculture for crop-dusting, mapping fields and observing crops and cattle.

The station reported that Mississippi State leads the FAA Center of Excellence for Drone Research and that university officials described MSU as a national leader in drone research. WCBI said that university research has contributed to eased regulations and has helped spawn private companies.

WCBI also noted that unmanned aircraft come in many shapes and sizes depending on their application and that the technology’s evolution continues to create new commercial and workforce opportunities.

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