Kentucky Category 11 (Aerial Certification) explicitly includes UAS and requires pairing with a site category, making a minimum of 3 exams. Even general-use pesticides require aerial certification when applied by drone. Rates run $14 to $19 per acre across 1.7 million acres of soybeans and 1.4 million acres of corn.
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.
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.
HBCU drone ag research & outreach, Nashville TN
Tennessee State University's DRONEs (Drone Research, Outreach, Navigation and Education) Program is an HBCU-based initiative delivering drone agriculture research, pilot training and Extension outreach to Tennessee farmers, with emphasis on serving historically underserved and limited-resource producers. The program offers FAA Part 107 prep courses, precision ag workshops and applied field research.
West Tennessee corn, soybean & cotton drone spraying
Airborne Ag Drones serves cotton, corn and soybean producers across west Tennessee, offering fungicide, herbicide and defoliant applications with DJI Agras equipment. The company focuses on large row-crop operations in the Tennessee River bottom and loess-bluff areas, providing rapid scheduling during critical application windows for cotton defoliation and corn VT fungicide.
Middle Tennessee precision ag & orchard drone services
Black Dog Drone Co. provides agricultural drone spraying and mapping services to Middle Tennessee grain and specialty crop producers. The company handles corn and soybean fungicide applications, orchard and vineyard spray programs in the Highland Rim and NDVI mapping for precision agronomic recommendations.
Land-grant drone research, training & extension, Lexington KY
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky operates a drone research and extension program focused on precision agriculture for Kentucky grain, tobacco and forage producers. The program conducts field trials, trains producers in drone scouting and application and partners with county Extension offices statewide.
Corn, soybean & wheat fungicide, Bowling Green area
Western Kentucky Aerial Spraying provides drone fungicide and herbicide services to row-crop producers across the Pennyroyal and south-central Kentucky. The operator specializes in corn and soybean VT/R3 applications and wheat T3 fungicide timing, offering rapid scheduling and competitive per-acre pricing.
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.
Western Kentucky precision ag drone services
Bestway Ag provides drone spraying and precision agriculture services across western Kentucky and southern Illinois, specializing in corn, soybean and wheat fungicide programs. The operation uses DJI Agras equipment and offers custom application scheduling for large row-crop farms.
Osprey network coverage for Kentucky producers
The Kentucky division of the Osprey Agri Drones network delivers drone spraying services to corn, soybean and tobacco growers across central and eastern Kentucky. Osprey operates a multi-state fleet of DJI Agras T50 and T100 drones, offering NDAA-compliant options and rapid scheduling for time-sensitive applications.
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Kentucky pesticide licensing is administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) under Category 11 (Aerial Certification), which explicitly includes UAS. Category 11 is not standalone, it must be paired with at least one site category, making a minimum of 3 exams: Core, Category 11 and a site category. Exam fees are $10 each with a $25 license fee.
A notable Kentucky rule: aerial certification is required for all pesticides applied by drone, including general-use products. This is stricter than most states, where certification is only required for restricted-use pesticides. Continuing education is 12 hours per 3-year renewal cycle. Reciprocity exists with IL, IN, OH, TN, VA and WV.
Kentucky is part of the Corn Belt agricultural region. See rates, crops and operators across the region.
Rates run $14 to $19 per acre, slightly above the core Corn Belt baseline due to fewer operators and more variable terrain. Western Kentucky is flatter and more competitive.
Yes. Kentucky requires aerial certification for all pesticides applied by aircraft, including drones, regardless of whether the product is general-use or restricted-use. This catches some operators by surprise.
No. Category 11 is not standalone. You must pair it with at least one site category (e.g., agricultural pest control), making the minimum 3 exams: Core, Category 11 and a site category.
Yes, with IL, IN, OH, TN, VA and WV. Contact KDA for current procedures.
Soybeans (1.7M acres) and corn (1.4M acres) are the primary markets. Soft red winter wheat adds a late May/June heading window. Tobacco in central Kentucky is a niche specialty crop opportunity.
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