Green Creek Drones
Agriculture spray drone dealer and DJI trained service center in Effingham IL. Partners with The Equity cooperative for custom aerial application services.
Based in Effingham, Green Creek Drones runs pilot training on row crops grown in the region for farms in Illinois. Illinois requires both a federal Part 137 ag aircraft operator certificate and an Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA)-issued aerial-category pesticide applicator license for any commercial spray.
Operations are based in the Corn Belt region.
Services offered
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 Green Creek Drones's service area:
- Illinois — requires Aerial General Standards (replaces Core exam) + site categories for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA).
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 Green Creek Drones's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Green Creek Drones should carry three credentials before any commercial pesticide application by drone in Illinois: 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 aerial-category pesticide applicator license. 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. A current certificate of insurance with chemical drift coverage and the operator's Section 44807 exemption number are reasonable to request alongside the license itself.
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.