AeroCrop Ag Solutions
Specializes in custom-built spray drone trailers and precision aerial application. One of the first companies in the region to bring precision drone spraying to agriculture.
AeroCrop Ag Solutions is a Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin drone applicator covering drone pesticide and fungicide spraying and dry granular spreading on row crops grown in the region in the Corn Belt region. Headquartered in Winfield, the operation reaches farms across the Corn Belt region. Commercial drone applicators in Illinois need FAA Part 137 plus an aerial category endorsement on a state pesticide applicator license issued by Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA).
Operations are based in the Corn Belt region.
Services offered
States served (7)
Aerial pesticide licensing in states served
Every state requires a pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement on top of FAA Part 137. The agencies that issue these licenses in AeroCrop Ag Solutions's service area:
- Illinois — Any commercial drone spray over Illinois fields needs Aerial General Standards (replaces Core exam) + site categories, issued by Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA).
- Iowa — aerial pesticide work runs through IDALS under Category 11 (Aerial Application).
- Minnesota — requires Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license. for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
- Missouri — Any commercial drone spray over Missouri fields needs Category 13: Aerial Pest Control (commercial/noncommercial). Category 23: Aerial Pest Control (private). Both new as of January 2025., issued by Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA).
- North Dakota — requires Unmanned Aerial Applicator License (separate from manned aerial) for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is ND Aeronautics Commission + NDSU Extension.
- South Dakota — aerial pesticide work runs through South Dakota DANR under Category 17: Aerial Application (General + Category G + Category 17).
- Wisconsin — requires Category 9.9: Aerial Applicator (supplementary certification under ATCP 29.28) for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is Wisconsin DATCP.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Verify and resources
Primary-source references for verifying credentials and looking up state-specific rules in AeroCrop Ag Solutions's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying AeroCrop Ag Solutions runs through three independent checks: Part 107 via the FAA Airmen Inquiry, Part 137 via the issuing FAA Flight Standards office, and the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license via the receiving state's department of agriculture. In Illinois the state credential is issued by Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA); you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. Pair that with a current chemical-drift COI and the Section 44807 exemption number for due diligence.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region is application-only — the chemical itself, surfactants and adjuvants are usually farmer-supplied. The rate covers calibration, RTK GPS flight planning, the labor to fly the field, mixing and loading from the supplied product, and the FIFRA Part 170 application record (date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID). Watch for travel surcharges past a stated radius, weekend or emergency-turnaround premiums, terrain or obstruction add-ons, and any minimum-acreage floor on small fields. Confirm in writing.