Rochester, Minnesota sits in Olmsted County, an ag-relevant region with statewide drone-spray operator coverage available; this page surfaces the crops, rates and licensing context for Rochester farmers booking work. Southeast Minnesota anchor for cover crop seeding and dairy support; Olmsted and surrounding counties report significant cropland. Primary crops in Minnesota include corn and soybeans, each with established 2026 drone-spray rate bands. Minnesota drone application rates run $12 to $17/acre depending on field size, crop and application timing, in line with 2026 statewide benchmarks. Every operator working over Minnesota fields must hold FAA Part 107 plus Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license. from Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and many also carry FAA Part 137 for commercial agricultural aircraft operations. Contact statewide operators in the Minnesota directory below for Rochester availability, or list your business free if you serve Rochester.
Corn Belt leader · 80,000+ acres serviced
AgriForce Drone Services is a full-service agricultural drone applicator based in central Iowa, serving the Corn Belt since 2020. FAA Part 107 and Part 137 certified fleet of 8 drones. Specializing in corn fungicide at tassel, soybean applications and fall cover crop seeding. Record: 1,200 acres treated in a single night.
Illinois soybean & corn · 100 acres/day
Heartland Drone Co. is an Illinois-based drone applicator serving corn and soybean producers across the upper Midwest. Single-operator, 2-drone setup capable of 100+ acres per day. We keep our overhead low and pass the savings to you, flat rate $14/acre for any field over 40 acres, no trip fee within 60 miles of Peoria.
Pro Ag Solutions was founded in 2021 by Cory Palm. Cory has an Associates Degree in Ag Aviation, then worked as an Agronomist for 20 years before stepping back into aerial application using drones. Starting with just a trailer and a DJI T30, Pro Ag Solutions has grown into a full fleet of drones and support vehicles. Licensed in ND, MN, SD. Services include row crop spraying, pasture spraying, CRP, aquatic and right-of-way spraying, multispectral imaging and mapping, soil sampling, cover crop spreading, seed spreading and fertilizer spreading. Team of 6 Part 107 pilots and 4 ground operations personnel.
Specializes in custom-built spray drone trailers and precision aerial application. One of the first companies in the region to bring precision drone spraying to agriculture.
Veteran-owned company partnered with Landus Cooperative (7000+ member-owners 70+ locations) to provide drone crop spraying and scouting services.
Founded 2020 by four fourth-generation Minnesota farmers. Exclusive Hylio dealer. Sprayed over 9000 acres in 2025. Listed on MN DOT commercial operators list.
Founded 2021 on a family vegetable farm near Minneapolis. Exclusive Agri Spray Drones dealer in Minnesota. Flown thousands of acres.
Multi-service drone operation in southwest Minnesota using DJI Agras T50. Built to improve accessibility of drone services for rural areas.
Christian-based commercial drone spraying company using EAVision J100. MN Pesticide Applicator License #20275359. Fully insured.
Agri Spray Drones dealer in New York Mills MN. Offers custom spraying plus full lineup of seed fertilizer and chemical products.
Central Minnesota precision drone service covering six upper Midwest states. Can begin work same day as initial site visit.
Premier Hylio drone dealer in Minnesota with certified UAV pilots and mechanics on staff. Sells full Hylio lineup and NuWay Ag drone trailers.
Rochester sits in Olmsted County with a population of approximately 121,395 (US Census Bureau Places).
Southeast Minnesota anchor for cover crop seeding and dairy support; Olmsted and surrounding counties report significant cropland.
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 |
| Wheat | 0 | $12 to $16 | May to Jun |
Rate ranges from national crop benchmarks. Minnesota statewide range: $12 to $17/acre. Estimate your job →
Commercial agricultural drone application in Minnesota requires the federal FAA Part 137 certificate plus Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license. from Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). 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 Minnesota and federally.
Use the spray cost calculator to model Rochester jobs against the $12 to $17/acre state range. Pin down acres, target crop (most Rochester jobs are corn), and whether you need application only or chemical-included pricing.
Confirm the operator holds FAA Part 107, FAA Part 137 and Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license.. 0 of 0 Rochester operators in this directory list Part 137. Ask for a copy of their certificate and state license number before signing.
Corn treatment in Minnesota typically lands in the Jul to Aug window. Demand spikes in peak season, so contact 2 to 3 of the Rochester 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 Rochester typically runs $12 to $17/acre, in line with the broader Minnesota 2026 benchmark. Application-only rates exclude chemical, and quotes vary based on field size, terrain and crop. Corn jobs in Minnesota 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.
Rochester does not yet have an operator listed at the city level, but 17 drone operators cover Minnesota statewide and most can serve Rochester 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 Rochester, list your business free to anchor this page.
Any operator booking commercial drone pesticide application over Rochester fields needs three credentials: FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate) for the pilot, FAA Part 137 (Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate) for the business, and Category B: General Aerial. Plus MnDOT aircraft registration and commercial operations license. from Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Confirm all three before any application; many operators also carry NDAA Section 848 compliance for cost-share eligible work.