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 Arizona are not yet listed by an operator in this directory; the page below covers what to look for and how the service works in Arizona. Arizona's state-level custom-rate guidance averages $16 to $28/acre, with the broader dry granular spreading band running $10 to $18/acre. In Arizona, dry granular spreading most commonly serves cotton, wheat and cover crops. Arizona sits in the Great Plains region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Arizona require Drone Pilot License (DPL), separate from Agricultural Aircraft Pilot License (AAP) from Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Dry Granular Spreading — quick facts
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.
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How dry granular spreading works
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.
Typical rate: $10 to $18/acre
Dry Granular Spreading on top Arizona crops
In Arizona, 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.
Aerial pesticide licensing in Arizona
Arizona requires Drone Pilot License (DPL), separate from Agricultural Aircraft Pilot License (AAP) for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA).
FL · first FAA-certified UAS spray company, 10,000+ flights completed
Daytona Beach, FL manufacturer and operator formerly known as LEAT (Leading Edge Aerial Technologies). First company to receive FAA certification for UAS spray applications of agricultural products. Founded 2012; acquired by Central Garden and Pet in November 2024. Completed over 10,000 UAS flights. Makes PrecisionVision PV35X, PV40X and PV100 platforms plus MapVision software.
Arizona does not yet have an operator in our directory listing dry granular spreading as a service. Many regional and national operators cover multiple states, so contact operators in neighbouring states or list your business free if you provide dry granular spreading in Arizona.
Commercial dry granular spreading in Arizona 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 Drone Pilot License (DPL), separate from Agricultural Aircraft Pilot License (AAP) from Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA). Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Arizona operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; rate confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. In Arizona, dry granular spreading is most often booked for cotton, wheat and cover crops, 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.