Aerial application of fungicides, insecticides and herbicides by agricultural drone across row crops, vineyards and orchards in all 50 US states.
Drone Pesticide Spraying drone services in Massachusetts are listed by 5 operators in this directory. Massachusetts's state-level custom-rate guidance averages $20 to $30/acre, with the broader drone pesticide spraying band running $12 to $22/acre. In Massachusetts, drone pesticide spraying most commonly serves corn, orchards and cover crops. Massachusetts sits in the Southeast region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Massachusetts require Category 11: Aerial Application from Massachusetts MDAR on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Drone Pesticide Spraying — quick facts
Drone pesticide spraying in the US costs $12 to $22 per acre depending on crop, region and product. It is legally required to hold FAA Part 137 certification plus a state commercial pesticide applicator license with aerial category endorsement. Most commercial operators run DJI Agras T50 or Hylio AG-272 class drones at 2 to 5 gallons per acre carrier volume, treating 40 to 60 acres per flight hour per drone.
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How drone pesticide spraying works
Drone pesticide spraying is the single largest ag drone service in the United States, generating an estimated 60 percent of all commercial drone flight hours in agriculture. Operators run DJI Agras T50 and T40, Hylio AG-272 and AG-230 and XAG P100 Pro class machines to apply EPA-registered crop protection products at 2 to 5 gallons per acre carrier volume. Typical field throughput is 40 to 60 acres per flight hour for a single T50, and large operators run 3 to 8 drone fleets that treat 800 to 1,500 acres per day during peak windows. The three regulatory pillars every commercial drone sprayer must clear are FAA Part 107 (remote pilot certification), FAA Part 137 (agricultural aircraft operator certificate) and a state commercial pesticide applicator license with an aerial endorsement. Labels govern everything: carrier volume minimums, droplet size specs, wind limits, buffer zones, REI (restricted entry interval) and PHI (preharvest interval) all come from the EPA-approved product label, not from operator preference.
Typical rate: $12 to $22/acre
Drone Pesticide Spraying on top Massachusetts crops
In Massachusetts, drone pesticide spraying is most commonly used on:
National network · largest spray drone operator network in US, 30+ states
Largest spray drone operator network in the US covering 30+ states, based in Iowa City, IA and led by CEO Mariah Scott. AcreConnect platform (map.acreconnect.io) connects farmers with local operators. Stone Valley Drones (PA) is a network member. Sells DJI Agras T10, T30, T40 and XAG P100 Pro. Holds FAA Exemption 18929B.
Northeast · only identified XAG authorized dealer in the region
The only identified XAG authorized dealer serving the Northeast US. Also sells DJI drones and the Ceres Air platform. Offers precision aerial application, multispectral mapping, agricultural education, training, repairs and drone sales. Partners with Virginia Ag Drones. Offers John Deere Financing.
Verified OperatorXAG Certified
Equipment SalesPilot TrainingDrone Spraying+1 more
Vermont's first agricultural drone service · licensed pesticide applicator
Self-described Vermont's first agricultural drone service, founded 2025. Operated by FAA-certified pilots and a Vermont-licensed commercial pesticide applicator. Services include precision aerial spraying, seeding, crop monitoring, thermal imaging, aerial photography and drone sales.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting+2 more
First NE ag drone service · spraying + spreading + monitoring
Self-described first agricultural drone service provider in the Northeast. Father-son team (Tom and Tim Massey) offering spraying up to 50 acres/hour plus fertilizer spreading, cover crop seeding, browntail moth management, multispectral crop monitoring and LiDAR mapping. Operates DJI Agras T40 fleet from Rockland, ME.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingFertilizer ApplicationCover Crop Seeding+2 more
CEASED OPERATIONS Aug 2025 · first eVTOL ag drone authorized in US
CEASED OPERATIONS August 2025 after failing to secure additional funding. Was the first eVTOL aircraft authorized for commercial US agricultural operations (April 2023). Raised $51.7M. Named Time Best Inventions 2024. Operated the Guardian SC1 (eVTOL, 200 lb payload, 20-gal tank, 18-ft spray boom). Founded 2017 in Woburn, MA.
FAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop Seeding
Price on request
Primary sources for drone pesticide spraying
Federal regulators and industry references that govern drone pesticide spraying in Massachusetts and across the United States.
5 operators in our directory list drone pesticide spraying as a service in Massachusetts. Use the operator grid below to compare credentials, fleet, response time and pricing before reaching out.
Commercial drone pesticide spraying in Massachusetts 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 Category 11: Aerial Application from Massachusetts MDAR. Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Massachusetts operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; rate confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. In Massachusetts, drone pesticide spraying is most often booked for corn, orchards 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. Any commercial aerial application of pesticides, even by drone, requires a Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate in addition to Part 107. Farmers spraying only their own crops may qualify for a simplified Part 137 private applicator path, but anyone charging a third party or treating land they do not own must hold the full commercial Part 137.
National averages run $12 to $18 per acre for fungicide and insecticide applications on corn, soybeans and wheat. Orchard, vineyard and specialty crop work runs $18 to $35 per acre because of dense canopy and more passes per season. Minimum field size is typically 40 to 80 acres, with travel surcharges on fields more than 30 miles from the operator base.
Yes, if the product label permits aerial application and the operator holds a state commercial applicator license in the restricted use category. Dicamba has state-specific drone approval rules, paraquat requires an online certification plus state license and 2,4-D drone applications follow the label droplet and wind restrictions. Always check the label and your state department of agriculture before booking.
Most commercial operators cap wind at 10 mph for standard droplet applications and 7 mph for dicamba and 2,4-D. Inversions, rain within 4 to 8 hours and temperatures above 85 F with low humidity also pause spraying. Operators use on-drone weather stations plus local mesonet data to document conditions for every application as required by FIFRA recordkeeping.
For corn fungicide in July, book 4 to 6 weeks out. For wheat heading sprays, book in April for June applications. For orchard and vineyard full-season programs, book an annual contract in January or February. One-off jobs during peak disease or pest spikes are often impossible to source without a pre-existing operator relationship.