Indiana has 5.6 million acres of corn and 5.8 million acres of soybeans, with drone spraying rates of $12 to $17 per acre. The Office of Indiana State Chemist at Purdue administers free licensing exams, and IPRB Bulletin #143 provides specific drone regulatory guidance. Tar spot pressure in recent years has accelerated drone fungicide adoption.
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.
McFly Aerial Ag is a Chesterfield, Indiana drone application business covering Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky. The operator holds FAA Part 107 and Part 137 certification along with a Section 44807 exemption. Work includes spraying, dry spreading, cover crop seeding, mapping and crop scouting on corn, soybeans, wheat and pasture, flown with an EAVision J100 and a Talos T60X.
Kentucky grain & tobacco drone application
Aero Ag LLC is a Kentucky-based agricultural drone operator serving corn, soybean, tobacco and small grain producers across the Bluegrass and Pennyroyal regions. The company offers fungicide, herbicide and fertilizer applications with DJI Agras platforms and holds FAA Part 107 certification.
Major IL/IN equipment dealer with 16 Illinois locations and 1 Indiana location (Williamsport). Carries full DJI Agras lineup with free on-field demos.
Agricultural drone service covering Indiana Michigan and Ohio. Offers spraying at $12/acre with $200 minimum. Provides precision variable rate applications.
Emerging ag drone company run by Purdue Agricultural Economics graduate and former Corteva territory manager. Serves Indiana and Kentucky farmers.
First Rantizo Drone Spraying Contractor in Indiana. Founded by Purdue Ag Business graduate. Goal of 10000 acres per season at 30-40 acres/hour.
Aerial application service combining traditional crop dusting with drone technology. Claims to be first crop-dusting operation approved by FAA for drone aerial application.
Veteran-owned (SDVOSB) company. Founded by Indiana National Guard veteran. Over 70000 acres covered. Holds multiple Indiana State Chemist certifications.
Indianapolis-area drone applicator. Claims 700-1000 acres per day capacity. Commercially licensed for spray seeding and mapping services.
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Indiana pesticide licensing is administered by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) at Purdue University under Category 11 (Aerial Application). Applicators take Core plus Category 11, with exams administered free of charge at Purdue, one of the lowest exam cost structures in the US. Business and applicator licenses are $45 per year each.
IPRB Bulletin #143, published by the Indiana Pesticide Review Board, provides specific drone regulatory guidance and confirms that Category 11 covers unmanned aircraft systems. Indiana participates in the DriftWatch sensitive crop registry. Renewal is on a 5-year cycle with 20 CCH (Continuing Certification Hours) required. Reciprocity exists with IL, MI, OH and KY.
Indiana is part of the Corn Belt agricultural region. See rates, crops and operators across the region.
Rates run $12 to $17 per acre, consistent with the Corn Belt baseline. High tar spot pressure years push demand and can tighten operator availability in July.
FAA Part 107, Part 137 and OISC Category 11 (Aerial Application) commercial applicator license. Core and Category 11 exams are free at Purdue University.
The Indiana Pesticide Review Board published Bulletin #143 specifically addressing drones for pesticide application. It clarifies that Category 11 includes UAS and outlines the layered FAA and state requirements.
Yes, with IL, MI, OH and KY. Contact OISC for current reciprocity requirements.
Late July through early August for corn and soybean fungicide. Tar spot outbreaks can trigger emergency demand in late July. Book by mid-June.
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