Athens, Georgia sits in Clarke County, an ag-relevant region with statewide drone-spray operator coverage available; this page surfaces the crops, rates and licensing context for Athens farmers booking work. Home of the University of Georgia and UGA Cooperative Extension; central Georgia ag-services hub. Primary crops in Georgia include cotton and corn, each with established 2026 drone-spray rate bands. Georgia drone application rates run $16 to $26/acre depending on field size, crop and application timing, in line with 2026 statewide benchmarks. Every operator working over Georgia fields must hold FAA Part 107 plus Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137. from Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), and many also carry FAA Part 137 for commercial agricultural aircraft operations. Contact statewide operators in the Georgia directory below for Athens availability, or list your business free if you serve Athens.
0
Listed operators
$16 to $26/acre
Georgia rate range
Cotton, Corn
Top crops served
Drone operators serving GeorgiaNo operator listed at the Athens city level yet. 25 statewide operators cover Georgia and most can serve Athens fields with reasonable travel.
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 to Oct) books fast, reserve your window in July.
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.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application+1 more
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.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application+1 more
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.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 107 ✓NDAA Compliant ✓
Drone SprayingFertilizer ApplicationCover Crop Seeding+2 more
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.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingFertilizer ApplicationEquipment Sales+2 more
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.
Drone ag technology & application services, Southeast US
Volitant Technologies provides agricultural drone application services and precision technology solutions to row-crop and specialty crop producers across the Southeast. The company combines drone spraying with data analytics and remote sensing to deliver prescription-based applications for fungicide, herbicide and fertilizer programs.
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.
South Carolina cotton, soybeans & timber drone services
Carter Aerial Land Management is a South Carolina-based drone application company serving cotton, soybean and timber producers across the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions. Services include fungicide and defoliant applications for cotton, soybean R3 programs and herbicide spraying for pine release and invasive species control in managed timberlands.
SC wetland seeding, wildlife habitat & ag drone services
Conservation Drone Services operates across South Carolina providing drone seeding for wildlife habitat restoration, wetland grass establishment and cover crop broadcasting, alongside crop scouting and mapping services. The company works with USDA NRCS, Ducks Unlimited and private landowners to restore native grasses, waterfowl impoundments and longleaf pine understory.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 107 ✓
Cover Crop SeedingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
Southeast Drone Solutions operates a multi-drone fleet serving row-crop producers across North Carolina and South Carolina. The company offers corn VT fungicide, soybean R3 applications, cotton defoliant timing and cover crop seeding, with crews positioned across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain for rapid response during peak application season.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application+1 more
Price on request
Athens ag-county context
Athens sits in Clarke County with a population of approximately 127,315 (US Census Bureau Places).
Home of the University of Georgia and UGA Cooperative Extension; central Georgia ag-services hub.
Sources: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture (county-level cropland and farm-receipts tables) and US Census Bureau Places gazetteer. Confirm exact figures via primary source for any decision-grade use.
Rate ranges from national crop benchmarks. Georgia statewide range: $16 to $26/acre. Estimate your job →
Required credentials for drone operators serving Athens
Commercial agricultural drone application in Georgia requires the federal FAA Part 137 certificate plus Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137. from Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). Read the federal rules in the FAA Part 137 guide and the state-by-state breakdown on state pesticide licensing.
Verify Athens drone operator credentials
Primary-source references for verifying ag drone operator credentials in Georgia and federally.
Use the spray cost calculator to model Athens jobs against the $16 to $26/acre state range. Pin down acres, target crop (most Athens jobs are cotton), and whether you need application only or chemical-included pricing.
2
Verify FAA Part 137 and Georgia licensing
Confirm the operator holds FAA Part 107, FAA Part 137 and Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137.. 0 of 0 Athens operators in this directory list Part 137. Ask for a copy of their certificate and state license number before signing.
3
Book the application window early
Cotton treatment in Georgia typically lands in the Jun to Oct window. Demand spikes in peak season, so contact 2 to 3 of the Athens operators below 4 to 6 weeks ahead with field maps, target product and a preferred date range. Confirm insurance certificates name your farm as additional insured before the first flight.
Drone spraying in Athens typically runs $16 to $26/acre, in line with the broader Georgia 2026 benchmark. Application-only rates exclude chemical, and quotes vary based on field size, terrain and crop. Cotton jobs in Georgia sit toward the lower end of that range when fields are large and contiguous. Use the spray cost calculator to model your specific acreage before requesting quotes.
Athens does not yet have an operator listed at the city level, but 25 drone operators cover Georgia statewide and most can serve Athens fields with reasonable travel. See the statewide grid below or use the spray cost calculator to estimate a job before reaching out. If you provide drone services in Athens, list your business free to anchor this page.
Any operator booking commercial drone pesticide application over Athens fields needs three credentials: FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate) for the pilot, FAA Part 137 (Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate) for the business, and Category 34: Aerial Methods. Recognizes both Part 107 and Part 137. from Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). Confirm all three before any application; many operators also carry NDAA Section 848 compliance for cost-share eligible work.