Vortex Ag LLC
Drone spraying livestock yards/farm sites/fence lines + ditch spraying. Serves Minnesota and South Dakota. Founded 2024.
Founded in 2024, Vortex Ag LLC has built a Minnesota and South Dakota drone pesticide and fungicide spraying practice covering row crops grown in the region. From a Minneota base, the crew covers Minnesota and South Dakota growers inside the Corn Belt region. Commercial drone applicators in Minnesota need FAA Part 137 plus an aerial category endorsement on a state pesticide applicator license issued by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Operations are based in the Corn Belt region.
Services offered
States served (2)
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 Vortex Ag LLC's service area:
- Minnesota: Any commercial drone spray over Minnesota fields needs Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license., issued by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
- South Dakota: requires Category 17: Aerial Application (General + Category G + Category 17) for aerial pesticide application; the licensing authority is South Dakota DANR.
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 Vortex Ag LLC's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Vortex Ag LLC should carry three credentials before any commercial pesticide application by drone in Minnesota: 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 Minnesota the state credential is issued by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA); 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 covers the application itself. That is drone calibration, GPS-guided mission planning, mixing and loading product into the tank, the labor and machine time to fly the field, plus a written FIFRA Part 170 application record: date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID. The pesticide, the surfactants and the adjuvants are yours to supply. Four things get billed on top. Travel past the operator's standard radius. After-hours or emergency turnaround. Steep terrain or heavy obstructions. A minimum charge below a stated field size. Get the inclusions and the exclusions in writing before anyone flies.