Ag Drones West
DJI Agras distributor for western US. Demonstrated DJI T40 in Choteau, MT. T40 bundle approx. $34,000. Can run 4 drones simultaneously at 45 acres/hr.
Working row crops grown in the region across the Great Plains region, Ag Drones West delivers pilot training and drone sales to farms in Montana, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah and California. Commercial drone applicators in Montana need FAA Part 137 plus an aerial category endorsement on a state pesticide applicator license issued by Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Operations are based in the Great Plains region.
Services offered
Equipment used
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 Ag Drones West's service area:
- Montana — Any commercial drone spray over Montana fields needs Category 18: Aerial Applicator, issued by Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA).
- Oregon — aerial pesticide work runs through Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) under Aerial Pesticide Applicator (APA) license, a separate standalone add-on..
- Washington — aerial pesticide work runs through Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) under No standalone aerial category. Certify in relevant use category + Laws and Safety exam..
- Idaho — Any commercial drone spray over Idaho fields needs Category AA: Aerial Applicators, issued by Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).
- Colorado — Any commercial drone spray over Colorado fields needs Category 114: Aerial Pest Control (explicitly includes UAV), issued by Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA).
- Utah — aerial pesticide work runs through Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) under Category 11: Aerial Application. "Special qualifications" for aerial beyond standard exam..
- California — requires CDPR Unmanned Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is CDPR (CalEPA).
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 Ag Drones West's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying Ag Drones West 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 Montana the state credential is issued by Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA); 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 usually breaks down into three lines: (1) included — calibration, GPS-guided flight planning, machine and pilot labor to fly the field, mixing and loading farmer-supplied product, and a Part 170-compliant application record; (2) excluded — the pesticide and any adjuvants, which the farmer supplies; (3) surcharges — long travel, after-hours, difficult terrain or obstruction-heavy fields, and minimum-acreage charges below a stated threshold. Spell out which of those land on your invoice before the operator schedules.