Midwest Ag Drones
Midwest-based ag spraying drone dealer in Mendon IL. Granted FAA exemption (docket FAA-2023-0304) for agricultural drone operations.
Based in Mendon, Midwest Ag Drones runs drone pesticide and fungicide spraying on row crops grown in the region for farms in Illinois. 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 (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 Midwest Ag Drones's service area:
- Illinois — aerial pesticide work runs through Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) under Aerial General Standards (replaces Core exam) + site categories.
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 Midwest Ag Drones's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying Midwest Ag Drones 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.