Wheat country: 45M acres of hard red winter and spring wheat
The Great Plains — from Kansas to North Dakota and west to Montana — contain over 45 million acres of wheat plus expanding corn and soybean production under irrigation. Drone fungicide applications at the T3 heading stage target Fusarium head blight and stripe rust, and are gaining market share over airplane application for fields under 500 acres. Average drone spray rates in the region range from $12 to $16 per acre for wheat and $14 to $18 for row crops.
The Great Plains span the semi-arid heart of North America, from the Nebraska Sandhills to the rolling wheat country of Kansas and out to the dryland cropping systems of Montana. Wheat dominates in the west and north; corn and soybeans expand eastward under center-pivot irrigation. Drone applications are displacing airplane fungicide work on smaller and irregularly-shaped fields where airplane mobilization cost makes per-acre pricing uncompetitive. Heavy clay soils and limited access roads in North Dakota and South Dakota also push operators toward drone solutions when ground rigs can't travel.
T3 heading-stage fungicide on wheat reduces DON mycotoxin contamination by 40–60% (USDA ARS Wheat Scab Initiative) and is the primary drone spray use case in wheat country.
Irrigated Nebraska and Kansas corn benefits from drone applications that avoid soil compaction in saturated pivot circles.
North Dakota and South Dakota operator density is growing fastest in the US, driven by wet springs and limited field access for ground rigs.
Grasshopper and army cutworm outbreaks trigger emergency drone insecticide work across the region in June and July.
Kansas State and NDSU extension actively support drone adoption with applied research on droplet size and carrier volume.
April through September, peaking in May–July
Corn Belt leader · 80,000+ acres serviced
AgriForce Drone Services is a full-service agricultural drone applicator based in central Iowa, serving the Corn Belt since 2020. FAA Part 107 and Part 137 certified fleet of 8 drones. Specializing in corn fungicide at tassel, soybean applications, and fall cover crop seeding. Record: 1,200 acres treated in a single night.
Great Plains wheat & corn specialist
Precision Air Ag serves wheat and corn producers across the Great Plains from our base in central Kansas. 5-drone fleet capable of 200+ acres per day. Our team handles wheat fungicide at heading, corn fungicide at tassel, and cotton defoliation across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. FAA Part 137 certified with $3M liability coverage.
Nebraska wheat & corn · NDAA-compliant fleet
Great Plains Drone Co. operates an NDAA-compliant fleet of Hylio AG-272 drones across Nebraska, South Dakota, and Kansas. We serve large-scale grain producers with corn and wheat fungicide applications, and offer fall cover crop seeding programs across the northern Plains. Minimum booking: 40 acres. No travel charge within 100 miles.
Illinois soybean & corn · 100 acres/day
Heartland Drone Co. is an Illinois-based drone applicator serving corn and soybean producers across the upper Midwest. Single-operator, 2-drone setup capable of 100+ acres per day. We keep our overhead low and pass the savings to you — flat rate $14/acre for any field over 40 acres, no trip fee within 60 miles of Peoria.
American-made NDAA-compliant ag drones & operator network
Hylio designs and manufactures the AG-272, the leading NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drone in the United States, and supports a national network of certified Hylio operators. The company provides sales, training, and operator support for federal programs, defense-adjacent ag operations, and buyers requiring US-manufactured drone equipment.
Official resources