Kearney, Nebraska sits in Buffalo County, an ag-relevant region with statewide drone-spray operator coverage available; this page surfaces the crops, rates and licensing context for Kearney farmers booking work. South-central Nebraska on the Platte; UNK and intensive irrigated corn production region. Primary crops in Nebraska include corn and soybeans, each with established 2026 drone-spray rate bands. Nebraska drone application rates run $12 to $16/acre depending on field size, crop and application timing, in line with 2026 statewide benchmarks. Every operator working over Nebraska fields must hold FAA Part 107 plus Category 12: Aerial Pest Control from Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), and many also carry FAA Part 137 for commercial agricultural aircraft operations. Contact statewide operators in the Nebraska directory below for Kearney availability, or list your business free if you serve Kearney.
Great Plains wheat & corn specialist
Precision Air Ag serves wheat and corn producers across the Great Plains from our base in central Kansas. 5-drone fleet capable of 200+ acres per day. Our team handles wheat fungicide at heading, corn fungicide at tassel and cotton defoliation across Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. FAA Part 137 certified with $3M liability coverage.
Nebraska wheat & corn · NDAA-compliant fleet
Great Plains Drone Co. operates an NDAA-compliant fleet of Hylio AG-272 drones across Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. We serve large-scale grain producers with corn and wheat fungicide applications, and offer fall cover crop seeding programs across the northern Plains. Minimum booking: 40 acres. No travel charge within 100 miles.
American-made NDAA-compliant ag drones & operator network
Hylio designs and manufactures the AG-272, the leading NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drone in the United States and supports a national network of certified Hylio operators. The company provides sales, training and operator support for federal programs, defense-adjacent ag operations and buyers requiring US-manufactured drone equipment.
Central Minnesota precision drone service covering six upper Midwest states. Can begin work same day as initial site visit.
Central Missouri drone spraying company providing liquid and dry application across nine states. Fully licensed and insured.
Major DJI ag drone dealer and training provider. FastPass program lets new operators spray under nuWay Part 137 while their own application is pending. Charges $14-17/acre in NE Ohio.
Veteran-owned. Founded 2023. 100000+ acres applied. Licensed operators in 8 states including Iowa Minnesota and Missouri.
Founded 2023 by retirees. Operates DJI Agras T40 for aerial spraying and spreading in SE Nebraska and SW Iowa.
TerraPlex AG dealer network member selling GTEEX Revolution Drones to farmers in Kansas Nebraska and Missouri.
Certified Revolution Drones (Terraplex AG) dealer. NDAA-compliant platform. Extensive educational content.
NE PSC Precision Ag Grant recipient for XAG drone scouting and application.
Central NE operator. Total Drone Solutions partner. NE PSC grant recipient.
Kearney sits in Buffalo County with a population of approximately 33,790 (US Census Bureau Places).
South-central Nebraska on the Platte; UNK and intensive irrigated corn production region.
Sources: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture (county-level cropland and farm-receipts tables) and US Census Bureau Places gazetteer. Confirm exact figures via primary source for any decision-grade use.
| Crop | Operators | Rate ($/acre) | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 0 | $12 to $18 | Jul to Aug |
| Soybeans | 0 | $12 to $18 | Jul to Sep |
| Wheat | 0 | $12 to $16 | May to Jun |
Rate ranges from national crop benchmarks. Nebraska statewide range: $12 to $16/acre. Estimate your job →
Commercial agricultural drone application in Nebraska requires the federal FAA Part 137 certificate plus Category 12: Aerial Pest Control from Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). 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 Nebraska and federally.
Use the spray cost calculator to model Kearney jobs against the $12 to $16/acre state range. Pin down acres, target crop (most Kearney 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 12: Aerial Pest Control. 0 of 0 Kearney operators in this directory list Part 137. Ask for a copy of their certificate and state license number before signing.
Corn treatment in Nebraska typically lands in the Jul to Aug window. Demand spikes in peak season, so contact 2 to 3 of the Kearney 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 Kearney typically runs $12 to $16/acre, in line with the broader Nebraska 2026 benchmark. Application-only rates exclude chemical, and quotes vary based on field size, terrain and crop. Corn jobs in Nebraska 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.
Kearney does not yet have an operator listed at the city level, but 32 drone operators cover Nebraska statewide and most can serve Kearney 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 Kearney, list your business free to anchor this page.
Any operator booking commercial drone pesticide application over Kearney 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 12: Aerial Pest Control from Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). Confirm all three before any application; many operators also carry NDAA Section 848 compliance for cost-share eligible work.