Traverse City, Michigan sits in Grand Traverse County, an ag-relevant region with statewide drone-spray operator coverage available; this page surfaces the crops, rates and licensing context for Traverse City farmers booking work. Northwest Lower Michigan; Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties are the top US tart-cherry-producing region. Primary crops in Michigan include corn and soybeans, each with established 2026 drone-spray rate bands. Michigan drone application rates run $14 to $22/acre depending on field size, crop and application timing, in line with 2026 statewide benchmarks. Every operator working over Michigan fields must hold FAA Part 107 plus AE (Aerial Standard) + Core + use categories from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and many also carry FAA Part 137 for commercial agricultural aircraft operations. Contact statewide operators in the Michigan directory below for Traverse City availability, or list your business free if you serve Traverse City.
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.
Falcon Ag is a drone application business based in Bannister, Michigan. The operator flies a DJI Agras T50 for spraying, dry spreading and cover crop seeding. Aerial mapping and equipment sales are also offered. Listed crop coverage includes corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, potatoes, pasture, orchards, grapes, cover crops and general row crops.
Agricultural drone service covering Indiana Michigan and Ohio. Offers spraying at $12/acre with $200 minimum. Provides precision variable rate applications.
Precision drone spraying company HQ in Blissfield MI. Partners with Exedy Drones (MI manufacturer). Operates services and sales divisions. Demonstrated at AgroExpo.
Division of Great Lakes Drone Company. First exclusively unmanned Part 137 approval in Michigan (Jan 2023). MDARD licensed across 6 categories.
60-80 customers and nearly 60000 acres sprayed. NAAA member. One of Michigan's most prominent custom applicators. Licensed and insured.
Family-owned Michigan ag drone dealer and HSE-UAV partner. Sells and supports agricultural spray/seeding and scouting drones.
One of first two commercially licensed drone applicators in Michigan (2021). Provides Part 137 consulting and drone maintenance alongside spray services.
Family-owned 4th generation farming family in Michigan Thumb area. Combines farming experience with DJI Agras T50 drone technology.
Family-owned company in Macomb MI providing agricultural drone spraying seeding and crop monitoring services.
Professional drone services in Davison MI. Led by Jason Stomps flying drones since 2017. Serves Michigan Thumb region and beyond.
Traverse City sits in Grand Traverse County with a population of approximately 15,678 (US Census Bureau Places).
Northwest Lower Michigan; Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties are the top US tart-cherry-producing region.
Sources: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture (county-level cropland and farm-receipts tables) and US Census Bureau Places gazetteer. Confirm exact figures via primary source for any decision-grade use.
| Crop | Operators | Rate ($/acre) | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 0 | $12 to $18 | Jul to Aug |
| Soybeans | 0 | $12 to $18 | Jul to Sep |
| Orchards | 0 | $20 to $35 | Mar to Aug |
Rate ranges from national crop benchmarks. Michigan statewide range: $14 to $22/acre. Estimate your job →
Commercial agricultural drone application in Michigan requires the federal FAA Part 137 certificate plus AE (Aerial Standard) + Core + use categories from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Read the federal rules in the FAA Part 137 guide and the state-by-state breakdown on state pesticide licensing.
Primary-source references for verifying ag drone operator credentials in Michigan and federally.
Use the spray cost calculator to model Traverse City jobs against the $14 to $22/acre state range. Pin down acres, target crop (most Traverse City jobs are corn), and whether you need application only or chemical-included pricing.
Confirm the operator holds FAA Part 107, FAA Part 137 and AE (Aerial Standard) + Core + use categories. 0 of 0 Traverse City operators in this directory list Part 137. Ask for a copy of their certificate and state license number before signing.
Corn treatment in Michigan typically lands in the Jul to Aug window. Demand spikes in peak season, so contact 2 to 3 of the Traverse City 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 Traverse City typically runs $14 to $22/acre, in line with the broader Michigan 2026 benchmark. Application-only rates exclude chemical, and quotes vary based on field size, terrain and crop. Corn jobs in Michigan 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.
Traverse City does not yet have an operator listed at the city level, but 22 drone operators cover Michigan statewide and most can serve Traverse City 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 Traverse City, list your business free to anchor this page.
Any operator booking commercial drone pesticide application over Traverse City fields needs three credentials: FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate) for the pilot, FAA Part 137 (Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate) for the business, and AE (Aerial Standard) + Core + use categories from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Confirm all three before any application; many operators also carry NDAA Section 848 compliance for cost-share eligible work.
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