Stehly Farms
Third-generation San Diego County farmer and custom applicator. Key inspiration behind AB 1016 drone spraying legislation signed by Gov. Newsom.
Stehly Farms is a California drone applicator covering drone pesticide and fungicide spraying on Orchards and Grapes / Vineyards in the California region. The team operates out of San Diego County and serves farms throughout the California region. Commercial drone applicators in California need FAA Part 137 plus an aerial category endorsement on a state pesticide applicator license issued by CDPR (CalEPA).
Operations are based in the California region.
Services offered
Pricing context for the crops Stehly Farms 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 orchards$20 to $35 per acre
- Drone spraying for grapes / vineyards$18 to $30 per acre
Crops serviced
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 Stehly Farms's service area:
- California — Any commercial drone spray over California fields needs CDPR Unmanned Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate, issued by CDPR (CalEPA).
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 Stehly Farms's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying Stehly Farms 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 California the state credential is issued by CDPR (CalEPA); 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 $18 to $35 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.