Shenzhen-based DJI has the lion’s share of the global drone market and is the dominant player in the U.S. market.

Lawmakers in Washington are seeking to ban new sales of drones from two dominant Chinese manufacturers, arguing they could be used to spy on Americans and that the low-cost models are hurting the U.S. drone industry.

A broader ban is worrisome for Americans for whom drones have become a part of their lives and work. It could disrupt wide-ranging operations, from law enforcement to mapping and filmmaking that drone operators say are viable because of the low cost and high performance of the Chinese drones. American-made drones just aren’t comparable, they say.

North Carolina farmer Russell Hedrick is critical of lawmakers pushing for a ban of Chinese manufactured drones, which he uses on his fields to increase efficiency and cut costs. (AP video: Erik Verduzco,