Drone broadcast of dry granular fertilizer, urea, gypsum, lime and cover crop seed across fields that are too wet or too tall for ground spreaders.
Dry Granular Spreading drone services in Alabama are listed by 10 operators in this directory. Alabama's state-level custom-rate guidance averages $16 to $24/acre, with the broader dry granular spreading band running $10 to $18/acre. In Alabama, dry granular spreading most commonly serves cotton, corn and soybeans. Alabama sits in the Southeast region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Alabama require Aerial category with insurance requirement. Custom Business License for aerial for-hire. from Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Drone dry granular spreading costs $10 to $18 per acre for application only, or $22 to $40 per acre when product is included. A DJI Agras T50 with dry hopper broadcasts urea, cover crop seed or granular fertilizer at 50 to 80 lbs per acre, covering 150 to 300 acres per day. Only FAA Part 137 plus state pesticide license apply when the product is a granular herbicide; fertilizer-only spreading requires only Part 107.
Drone dry granular spreading fills a real gap when fields are too wet for ground spreaders but still need fertilizer, lime, gypsum or rescue nitrogen. The DJI Agras T50 and T40 both offer dry-hopper attachments that broadcast 50 to 80 lbs per acre of urea, cover crop seed or granular fertilizer at 3 to 5 acre per minute throughput. Typical use cases include rescue nitrogen on pre-tasseling corn after spring rains blocked ground rigs, granular fungicide seed treatment alternatives, sulfur and gypsum top-dress on alfalfa and targeted lime on soil test zones. The service does not require Part 137 because dry fertilizer and seed are not pesticides, but some states still require a commercial pesticide applicator license if the product being spread is a granular herbicide or restricted use nutrient. Spreading rates are typically $10 to $18 per acre application only, with bring-your-own-product arrangements for fertilizer and all-in pricing for cover crop seed.
In Alabama, dry granular spreading is most commonly used on:
Prices reflect 2026 industry-typical drone spraying rates by crop. Pair with the operator-stated rates below for a quote tailored to your fields.
Alabama requires Aerial category with insurance requirement. Custom Business License for aerial for-hire. for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details: Alabama state page · 50-state licensing reference · state extension service.
National ag drone operator network, SE & mid-Atlantic focus
Osprey Agri Drones is a national agricultural drone operator network with strong coverage across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic. The company coordinates multi-state fleet deployment for corn, soybean, cotton, peanut and rice applications, offering operators in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and beyond.
National ag drone operator network & marketplace
Avary Drone operates a national network of vetted agricultural drone operators and a booking marketplace connecting growers with local certified pilots. Coverage spans the Southeast, Midwest and mid-Atlantic, with operators available for corn, soybean, cotton and rice fungicide and herbicide applications, as well as cover crop seeding.
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.
Advanced ag drone technology & application services
Pegasus Robotics develops and deploys advanced agricultural drone systems for large-scale crop protection and precision application. The company offers both equipment solutions and commercial application services across the Southeast, with a focus on high-efficiency coverage for corn, soybeans and cotton using autonomy-enhanced drone platforms.
High-capacity ag drone application, Southeast & Gulf Coast
Talos Drones operates high-capacity agricultural drone platforms across the Southeast and Gulf Coast, specializing in large-acreage rice, cotton and soybean applications. The company uses heavy-lift spray drones for efficient coverage of Delta and coastal plain farmland, with crews available across Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and the surrounding region.
Southeast multi-state ag drone & aerial application services
KDB Land and Air is a multi-state agricultural drone and aerial application company operating across the Southeast. The company offers drone fungicide, herbicide and defoliant programs for cotton, corn, soybeans and peanuts across Alabama, Georgia and Florida, with crews positioned for rapid deployment during critical spray windows.
Mississippi veteran-owned ag drone application company
Raven 6 Rising LLC is a veteran-owned agricultural drone company serving Mississippi row-crop producers. The company offers corn and soybean fungicide applications, cotton defoliant spraying and cover crop seeding, with a focus on reliability and rapid turnaround during critical application windows across the Delta and north Mississippi.
GA · XAG P100 Pro HP fleet, peanuts, cotton, pecans & blueberries
National aerial services company with a dedicated drone ag division actively operating in Georgia. Fully licensed in Georgia. Operates fleet of XAG P100 Pro HP drones for wet spraying, dry spreading (fertilizer/seed), aerial surveys, multispectral crop analysis and prescription mapping. Confirmed operations in Bulloch County peanuts and SW Georgia cotton.
North Alabama · row crops, pasture, pumpkins & cover crop seeding
Agriculture drone spraying service in Cullman, Alabama serving all of North Alabama. Run by Mickle. Operates GPS/RTK spray drones for row crop spraying (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides), pasture/hay field broadleaf herbicide, cover crop seeding, fertilizer spreading, multispectral mapping and pond treatments. Applied fungicide and insecticide at Peinhardt Living History Farm for pumpkins and sorghum.
Auburn AL · forestry, invasive species & pasture drone herbicide spraying
Family-run Auburn, AL company combining spray drone technology with land management. Run by John Harris and Louie Harris. Specializes in drone herbicide spraying for forestry pine release, pastures and invasive weeds (kudzu, privet) across East Alabama and West Georgia. Also offers seeding, fertilizer spreading and forestry mulching. Holds FAA Part 137.
Federal regulators and industry references that govern dry granular spreading in Alabama and across the United States.
10 operators in our directory list dry granular spreading as a service in Alabama. Use the operator grid below to compare credentials, fleet, response time and pricing before reaching out.
Commercial dry granular spreading in Alabama requires three credentials: an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for the pilot, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate for the business, and Aerial category with insurance requirement. Custom Business License for aerial for-hire. from Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Alabama operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; rate confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. In Alabama, dry granular spreading is most often booked for cotton, corn and soybeans, each with its own seasonal window. For one-off jobs during peak demand spikes, supply tightens fast — establishing the operator relationship in the off-season pays off.
Yes for broadcast rates up to about 80 lbs per acre. A DJI Agras T50 with the 80L dry hopper holds enough for 1.0 to 1.5 acres at typical urea rates, and the operator cycles through batteries and hopper refills to keep throughput at 150 to 300 acres per day. Rates above 100 lbs per acre start to make ground spreaders more economical once fields are dry enough for wheels.
Rescue nitrogen is a side-dress urea or UAN application after the V8 to V12 window, when corn is too tall for most ground rigs and spring rains have prevented timely fertilization. Drones solve this because the tall corn no longer obstructs access and field soil moisture does not matter since wheels never touch the ground. Yield response to timely rescue N on deficient corn is 15 to 30 bushels per acre.
Not for pure fertilizer. Urea, potash, gypsum, lime, sulfur and micronutrients are not pesticides and fall outside FAA Part 137. However, granular herbicides (e.g., Aatrex DF) and combination products that contain any EPA-registered pesticide active ingredient do trigger Part 137 and state pesticide applicator licensing.
Application-only rates run $10 to $18 per acre, with bring-your-own-product arrangements standard. All-in rates including product are typically $22 to $40 per acre for cover crop seed or urea. Minimum field size is usually 40 acres, with cover crop seeding often bundled into multi-service contracts at lower net rates.
Yes, and cover crop seeding is the most common dry-hopper use. The same DJI Agras T50 that spreads urea also broadcasts cereal rye, ryegrass, clover and radish seed at 15 to 60 lbs per acre. Many operators run fertilizer spreading during the May through June window and cover crop seeding August through October on the same equipment.