Central, IL
Central Missouri drone spraying company providing liquid and dry application across nine states. Fully licensed and insured.
Drone SprayingCover Crop Seeding
Price on request
Aerial Cover Crop Seeding in Montana
Drone aerial broadcast seeding of cover crops into standing corn, soybeans and specialty crops across the Corn Belt, Chesapeake Bay watershed and California.
Aerial Cover Crop Seeding drone services in Montana are listed by 6 operators in this directory. Montana's state-level custom-rate guidance averages $12 to $18/acre, with the broader aerial cover crop seeding band running $12 to $18/acre. In Montana, aerial cover crop seeding most commonly serves wheat, cover crops and corn. Montana sits in the Great Plains region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Montana require Category 18: Aerial Applicator from Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Aerial Cover Crop Seeding — quick facts
Drone cover crop seeding costs $12 to $18 per acre application only, or $22 to $35 per acre seed and application combined. USDA NRCS EQIP cost-share under Cover Crop Practice Standard 340 pays $25 to $55 per acre in most states, reducing net farmer cost to $5 to $12 per acre. A single DJI Agras T50 broadcasts 200 to 400 acres per day during the peak August to October window.
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How aerial cover crop seeding works
Aerial cover crop seeding is the fastest-growing ag drone service in the US, with approximately 15 million acres planted to cover crops annually. Drones broadcast cereal rye, annual ryegrass, crimson clover, hairy vetch, oats and brassicas into standing row crops 2 to 6 weeks before harvest, giving seeds a 3 to 4 week head start over post-harvest ground seeding. The USDA NRCS Cover Crop Practice Standard 340 makes drone seeding eligible for EQIP cost-share payments of $25 to $55 per acre in most states, which often covers 50 to 70 percent of the total cost. Throughput on a DJI Agras T50 or T40 runs 200 to 400 acres per drone per day of broadcast seeding, with seed rate, wind conditions and field layout as the main variables. Most operators handle the seed procurement themselves and charge a combined seed-plus-application rate, though bring-your-own-seed arrangements are common for farmers enrolled in state cost-share programs with specific species mandates.
Typical rate: $12 to $18/acre
Aerial Cover Crop Seeding on top Montana crops
In Montana, aerial cover crop seeding is most commonly used on:
- Wheat in Montana$12 to $16 per acre
- Cover Crops in Montana$12 to $18 per acre
- Corn in Montana$12 to $18 per acre
Prices reflect 2026 industry-typical drone spraying rates by crop. Pair with the operator-stated rates below for a quote tailored to your fields.
Aerial pesticide licensing in Montana
Montana requires Category 18: Aerial Applicator for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA).
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details: Montana state page · 50-state licensing reference · state extension service.
Aerial Cover Crop Seeding drone operators in Montana
Billings, MT
Commercial agricultural drone spraying in Montana. Offers fungicide, pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer aerial spraying plus over-seeding. Online booking available.
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application
Price on request
Helena area, MT
David Cahoon created a weed-spraying drone after hearing from ranchers. Demonstrated near Gates of the Mountains. Uses GPS-controlled altitude and pump rate. 1 acre with 2 gallons vs. 20 gallons by hand.
Drone SprayingCover Crop Seeding
Price on request
Southwest Montana, MT
Southwest Montana ag drone operator. Provides crop and pasture spraying, broadcast seeding, multispectral and thermal imaging. Offers variable rate applications and shareable KML files.
FAA Part 107 ✓
Price on request
Billings, MT
Billings-based ag drone spraying company providing precision aerial application of seed, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to Montana farmers.
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application
Price on request
Dayton, WY
Family-owned drone spraying service. Five generations of ag experience. Operates 5 drones. Key contracts with Simplot (Smart Farm) and Rantizo. Year 1: 5,000 acres; Year 2: 20,000 acres.
Drone SprayingCover Crop Seeding
Price on request
Primary sources for aerial cover crop seeding
Federal regulators and industry references that govern aerial cover crop seeding in Montana and across the United States.
FAQ: aerial cover crop seeding in Montana
6 operators in our directory list aerial cover crop seeding as a service in Montana. Use the operator grid below to compare credentials, fleet, response time and pricing before reaching out.
Commercial aerial cover crop seeding in Montana 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 18: Aerial Applicator from Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA). Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Montana operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; rate confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. In Montana, aerial cover crop seeding is most often booked for wheat, cover crops and corn, 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.
Cereal rye is the workhorse in the Corn Belt and establishes reliably from September aerial seeding. Annual ryegrass, crimson clover, hairy vetch, oats, radishes and brassicas all broadcast well. Large-seeded crops like soybeans and peas are impractical because of tank capacity and seed damage on impact.
Late August through early October in the Corn Belt, timed around corn canopy senescence so seed reaches soil. Iowa and Illinois operators typically run August 20 through September 15 for corn. The goal is for corn leaves to drop within a week of seeding so sunlight reaches germinating cover crops.
EQIP cost-share under Practice Standard 340 varies by state but typically pays $25 to $55 per acre for seed plus application combined, which covers 50 to 70 percent of the total drone-seeded cost. Some states layer Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funds on top for 80 to 100 percent coverage. Check with your local NRCS field office for state-specific rates.
For early establishment, yes. Drone seeding into standing corn or soybeans gives the cover crop 3 to 4 extra weeks to root before frost. This is critical for cereal rye aiming at full ground cover by November, or for clovers that need time to nodulate before dormancy. Post-harvest drilling after late October corn harvest often produces thinner stands.
By late July or early August for September slots in the Corn Belt. The cover crop window overlaps with corn fungicide mop-up and soybean pre-harvest, so operator capacity is the real constraint. Late callers usually get pushed into post-harvest ground seeding at higher combined cost.