Southern Skies Ag Drone LLC
Verified OperatorFeaturedGeorgia & Southeast cotton defoliation expert
Southern Skies Ag Drone specializes in cotton defoliation, peanut desiccation and corn fungicide across Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. Our 5-drone fleet handles soft Delta soils and sensitive neighboring crops where airplane applicators decline to fly. Defoliant season (Sept to Oct) books fast, reserve your window in July.
Operations are based in the Southeast region.
Services offered
Pricing context for the crops Southern Skies services
Typical 2026 per-acre rates for drone spraying by crop, based on US ag drone industry data. Southern Skies's stated rate is $12 to $18/acre.
- Drone spraying for cotton$14 to $20 per acre
- Drone spraying for corn$12 to $18 per acre
- Drone spraying for soybeans$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 Skies's service area:
- Georgia — aerial pesticide work runs through Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) under Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137..
- Alabama — aerial pesticide work runs through Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries under Aerial category with insurance requirement. Custom Business License for aerial for-hire..
- Florida — Any commercial drone spray over Florida fields needs Aerial Pest Control (Ch. 487 F.S.), issued by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
- South Carolina — Any commercial drone spray over South Carolina fields needs Category 11: Aerial Applicator, issued by Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation.
- North Carolina — Any commercial drone spray over North Carolina fields needs Aerial Methods category + specialty category. Aircraft inspection $25/aircraft., issued by NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
- Tennessee — aerial pesticide work runs through Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) under AER (Aerial) licensing exam + category certification.
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 Skies's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Southern Skies Ag Drone LLC should carry three credentials before any commercial pesticide application by drone in Georgia: 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 Georgia the state credential is issued by Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA); 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.
The operator's stated rate of $12 to $18 per acre 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.
Request a quote from Southern Skies
Tell Southern Skies 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 Georgia to compare.
- Goes directly to Southern Skies, not a call center.
- 3 quotes max if you broaden, never more. We never sell your info.
- Southern Skies's typical rate: $12 to $18/acre per acre.