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Agricultural Drone Services in Traverse City, Michigan

By Eugen Manoli, Founder and Editor · Updated

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.

0
Listed operators
$14 to $22/acre
Michigan rate range
Corn, Soybeans
Top crops served

Drone operators serving MichiganNo operator listed at the Traverse City city level yet. 14 statewide operators cover Michigan and most can serve Traverse City fields with reasonable travel.

Lafayette, IN

Indiana & Ohio corn-soybean specialist

Crop Hawk Drone Services covers Indiana, Ohio and Michigan with a 3-drone fleet. Our core business is fungicide application on corn at VT/R1 and soybean applications at R2 to R3. We also offer cover crop seeding programs starting in August. Operated by a fourth-generation farm family that understands your operation from the ground up.

Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting
$13 to $17/acre
28K ac 3

Agricultural drone service covering Indiana Michigan and Ohio. Offers spraying at $12/acre with $200 minimum. Provides precision variable rate applications.

Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting+1 more
Price on request
Blissfield, MI

Precision drone spraying company HQ in Blissfield MI. Partners with Exedy Drones (MI manufacturer). Operates services and sales divisions. Demonstrated at AgroExpo.

FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingFertilizer ApplicationPilot Training+1 more
Price on request
Coloma, MI

Division of Great Lakes Drone Company. First exclusively unmanned Part 137 approval in Michigan (Jan 2023). MDARD licensed across 6 categories.

FAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingAerial Mapping
Price on request
Six Lakes, MI

60-80 customers and nearly 60000 acres sprayed. NAAA member. One of Michigan's most prominent custom applicators. Licensed and insured.

FAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application
Price on request

One of first two commercially licensed drone applicators in Michigan (2021). Provides Part 137 consulting and drone maintenance alongside spray services.

FAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
Price on request

Family-owned 4th generation farming family in Michigan Thumb area. Combines farming experience with DJI Agras T50 drone technology.

FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
Price on request
Davison, MI

Professional drone services in Davison MI. Led by Jason Stomps flying drones since 2017. Serves Michigan Thumb region and beyond.

FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
Price on request

Traverse City ag-county context

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.

Crops served by Traverse City drone operators

CropOperatorsRate ($/acre)Window
Corn0$12 to $18Jul to Aug
Soybeans0$12 to $18Jul to Sep
Orchards0$20 to $35Mar to Aug

Rate ranges from national crop benchmarks. Michigan statewide range: $14 to $22/acre. Estimate your job →

Required credentials for drone operators serving Traverse City

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.

Verify Traverse City drone operator credentials

Primary-source references for verifying ag drone operator credentials in Michigan and federally.

How to hire a drone operator in Traverse City

  1. 1
    Estimate your acreage and budget

    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.

  2. 2
    Verify FAA Part 137 and Michigan licensing

    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.

  3. 3
    Book the application window early

    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.

Other cities in Michigan

Statewide directory
All operators in Michigan
View all operators in Michigan

Related crop guides for Michigan

FAQs about drone spraying in Traverse City

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.