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Crop Scouting

Eugen, Founder and Editor of US Ag Drone Directory
By Eugen, Founder and Editor · Updated

Drone crop scouting covers 200 to 400 acres per hour with full field visual coverage, compared to 20 to 50 acres per hour for on-foot scouts. Early detection of tar spot, white mold, or western corn rootworm reduces pesticide spend by targeting treatment to affected zones instead of blanket-spraying entire fields. Most drone scouts deliver geotagged photo reports with GPS coordinates within 24 hours of the flight.

Aerial scouting for pest pressure, disease outbreaks, storm damage, and stand issues.

About this service

Drone scouting covers more ground faster than walking fields on foot. Operators fly systematic patterns to identify pest infestations (corn rootworm, soybean aphids, spider mites), disease outbreaks (tar spot, white mold, head scab), weed escapes (waterhemp, Palmer amaranth), hail and wind damage, herbicide injury, and emergence issues. High-resolution photos with GPS coordinates let you pinpoint problem areas and respond with targeted treatment instead of blanket-spraying entire fields.

Typical rate: $8–$20/acre ($/acre)

Operators offering crop scouting(44)

All operators are independently verified. View all operators or search by state.

Ames, IA
Featured

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.

Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting+1 more
$12–$18/acre
80K ac 8FAA
Salina, KS
Featured

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.

Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting
$12–$16/acre
55K ac 5FAA
Napa, CA
Featured

California vineyards & orchards specialist

SkyFarm Solutions is California's premier agricultural drone service provider, specializing in vineyard fungicide applications, orchard treatments, and specialty crop mapping. We serve Napa, Sonoma, San Joaquin Valley, and Central Valley growers with precision drone applications where tractors struggle on hillside terrain. 4 drones, year-round operations.

Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
$18–$30/acre
22K ac 4FAA
Lafayette, IN

Indiana & Ohio corn-soybean specialist

Crop Hawk Drone Services covers Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan with a 3-drone fleet. Our core business is fungicide application on corn at VT/R1 and soybean applications at R2–R3. We also offer cover crop seeding programs starting in August. Operated by a fourth-generation farm family that understands your operation from the ground up.

Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting
$13–$17/acre
28K ac 3FAA
Valdosta, GA
Featured

Georgia & 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–Oct) books fast — reserve your window in July.

Drone SprayingEmergency ResponseCrop Scouting
$12–$18/acre
42K ac 5FAA
Wenatchee, WA

Washington orchards & wheat · 3 drones

Pacific Northwest Ag Drone services apple and cherry orchards, wheat fields, and hop yards across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. We navigate steep hillside orchards where ground equipment cannot operate and deliver precise fungicide applications for powdery mildew and fire blight control. Available March through October for orchard programs.

Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting
$18–$28/acre
15K ac 3FAA

Also searched as

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Frequently asked questions

A drone covers 200 to 400 acres per hour with full visual coverage. On-foot scouting covers 20 to 50 acres per hour with spot checks. Drones identify problems earlier and across the entire field, not just sample points, catching outbreaks before they spread across the whole operation.

Early season stand count flights work best at V2 to V4 stage (2 to 3 weeks after planting). Mid-season health assessments target V8 to VT for corn and R2 to R3 for soybeans. Pre-harvest flights document conditions for insurance and record-keeping.

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