Southern Drone Ops
Verified OperatorAR · third-gen aerial applicators, Part 137 filing service & training
Third-generation aerial applicators based in Arkansas and the Southeast US, founded 2019. Provides advanced aerial analytics, precision ag consulting, training and a done-for-you FAA Part 137 exemption filing service for drone operators. Also offers multispectral mapping, prescription file creation and drone sales.
Operations are based in the Mississippi Delta region.
Services offered
Pricing context for the crops Southern Drone Ops services
Typical 2026 per-acre rates for drone spraying by crop, based on US ag drone industry data. Contact the operator for a quote on your specific fields.
- Drone spraying for rice$14 to $22 per acre
- Drone spraying for soybeans$12 to $18 per acre
- Drone spraying for cotton$14 to $20 per acre
- Drone spraying for corn$12 to $18 per acre
- Drone spraying for cover crops$12 to $18 per acre
Crops serviced
Equipment used
Certifications & compliance
States served (6)
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 Southern Drone Ops's service area:
- Arkansas — aerial pesticide work runs through Arkansas Department of Agriculture under Pilot authorization added to license. CAT license invalid for drone use..
- Mississippi — requires Category 11: Aerial Applicator + Ag Aviation license for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC).
- Tennessee — aerial pesticide work runs through Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) under AER (Aerial) licensing exam + category certification.
- Louisiana — Any commercial drone spray over Louisiana fields needs Category 11: Aerial Applicator + Aerial Owner Operator License, issued by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).
- Alabama — Any commercial drone spray over Alabama fields needs Aerial category with insurance requirement. Custom Business License for aerial for-hire., issued by Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
- Georgia — Any commercial drone spray over Georgia fields needs Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137., issued by Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA).
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 Southern Drone Ops's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Ask Southern Drone Ops for four documents to confirm credentials: the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate number, the Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate, the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license, and a certificate of insurance carrying chemical drift coverage. In Arkansas the state credential is issued by Arkansas Department of Agriculture; you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. The Section 44807 exemption number is the fourth piece, applicable to any drone over 55 lbs gross weight.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region typically covers the application itself: drone calibration, GPS-guided mission planning, mixing and loading product into the tank, the labor and machine time to fly the field, and a written FIFRA Part 170 application record (date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID). Pesticide product, surfactants and adjuvants are usually supplied by the farmer and excluded from the per-acre rate. Common surcharges include long travel past the operator's standard radius, after-hours or emergency turnaround, fields with steep terrain or significant obstructions, and minimum-acreage charges below a stated field size. Get inclusions and exclusions in writing before any application.
Request a quote from Southern Drone Ops
Tell Southern Drone Ops about your fields. They reply within 24 hours, often faster during spray season. Free, no obligation, and you can also ask for 2 more quotes from verified operators in Arkansas to compare.
- Goes directly to Southern Drone Ops, not a call center.
- 3 quotes max if you broaden, never more. We never sell your info.