Potatoes cover approximately 1 million harvested acres in the United States, concentrated in Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin and Maine. Drone spraying on potatoes costs $16 to $24 per acre, with an 8-to-12-pass fungicide program per season targeting late blight and early blight. The drone advantage is late-season canopy work after row closure when ground rigs would crush rows and reduce yield.
Potatoes cover roughly 1 million harvested acres in the United States per USDA NASS, concentrated in Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin and Maine. Drone spraying targets late blight, Colorado potato beetle and an intensive 8-to-12-pass fungicide program per season.
ULV rate: 5 to 15 gpa
Key pests and diseases
âš Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans)
âš Early Blight (Alternaria solani)
âš White Mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)
âš Colorado Potato Beetle
âš Potato Leafhopper
âš Verticillium Wilt
Drone application can respond quickly to any of these threats, even in fields with difficult access.
The typical rate for drone spraying on potatoes is $16 to $24 per acre for application only, the farmer supplies the chemical product. Pricing varies based on total acreage, distance from the operator's base and product type. Larger fields (500+ acres) often qualify for lower per-acre rates.
Optimal timing for drone applications on potatoes is: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Applications should be made at low wind speeds (under 10 mph), ideally early morning or evening, to maximize product adhesion and minimize drift.
Key advantages of drone application over ground equipment: (1) zero soil compaction, (2) can operate when fields are too wet for tractors, (3) high-precision GPS coverage with 95%+ uniformity, (4) can treat irregular or small fragmented fields and (5) can spray tall crops like corn at full canopy. The main trade-off is a smaller tank size compared to pull-behind ground rigs.
Austin Drone Solutions opened in 2025 and has covered over 2,500 acres across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Their partnership with Parabug allows them to release beneficial insects via a patent-pending drone release system, implemented on their DJI Agras T25, making them one of the rare ag drone operators in the Pacific Northwest offering biocontrol services. They also provide spraying and spreading services on almost all crops and pasture ground using a DJI Agras T50, and are currently testing pollen applications at 10 GPA with Firman Pollen. Their trailer mixes up to 175 gallons per batch and carries 550 gallons of fresh water.
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Authorized DJI Agras dealer. One-stop shop for ag drones, parts and service. Operates spray hubs across Idaho. Sprayed thousands of acres. $15 to $22/acre.
Idaho's leading ag drone supplier started on a family farm. Carries multiple brands. Nationwide shipping. Also provides local spray services in SE Idaho. Founder Braden Smith gained attention when Elon Musk shared his post.
Idaho-focused precision drone service. Uses XAG P100 Pro and Chem-Man software. Emphasis on eliminating soil compaction and canopy penetration. Does rangeland rehabilitation and conservation.
Family-owned drone spraying service. Five generations of ag experience. Operates 5 drones. Key contracts with Simplot (Smart Farm) and Rantizo. Year 1: 5,000 acres; Year 2: 20,000 acres.