Fortis Aerial
Verified OperatorSingle owner/operator (Curtis) servicing Central Iowa. We help with pasture management, hobby farms, and large row crop fungicide applications.
Fortis Aerial provides drone pesticide and fungicide spraying for Corn, Soybeans, Grapes / Vineyards, Orchards and Cover Crops across Iowa. The team operates out of Runnells and serves farms throughout the Corn Belt region. Commercial drone spraying in Iowa requires FAA Part 137 certification and a state pesticide applicator license issued by IDALS with the aerial category endorsement.
Operations are based in the Corn Belt region.
Services offered
Pricing context for the crops Fortis Aerial services
Typical 2026 per-acre rates for drone spraying by crop, based on US ag drone industry data. Fortis Aerial's stated rate is $14 to $18/acre.
- Drone spraying for corn$12 to $18 per acre
- Drone spraying for soybeans$12 to $18 per acre
- Drone spraying for grapes / vineyards$18 to $30 per acre
- Drone spraying for orchards$20 to $35 per acre
- Drone spraying for cover crops$12 to $18 per acre
Crops serviced
Equipment used
States served (1)
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 Fortis Aerial's service area:
- Iowa requires Category 11 (Aerial Application) for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is IDALS.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Frequently asked questions
Fortis Aerial should hold three credentials before applying any pesticide by drone in Iowa: an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for the pilot in command, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate for the business, and a state pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement. In Iowa the state credential is issued by IDALS; you can ask the operator for their applicator license number and verify it through the agency directly. Reputable applicators will also share a current certificate of insurance with chemical drift coverage and the operator's Section 44807 exemption number on request. The site's state licensing reference covers the agency, exam and renewal cycle in every state.
The operator's stated rate of $14 to $18 per acre usually covers the application itself: drone calibration, GPS-guided flight planning, mixing and loading product into the tank, the labor and machine time to fly the field, and a written application record (date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID) consistent with FIFRA Part 170 record-keeping. Pesticide product, surfactants and adjuvants are typically supplied by the farmer and not included in the per-acre rate. Common surcharges include long travel beyond the operator's standard radius, after-hours or emergency turnaround, fields with significant obstructions or steep terrain, and minimum-acreage charges below a stated field size. Confirm what is and is not included in writing before any application.