Broadcast cover crop seed into standing corn and soybeans before harvest.
Drone seeding has become one of the fastest-growing ag drone applications in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Operators broadcast cereal rye, annual ryegrass, crimson clover, oats, radishes, and custom blends into standing corn and soybeans weeks before harvest. This gets seed established earlier, meets NRCS cost-share program deadlines, and avoids soil compaction from driving equipment through mature crops. Fall seeding windows run August through October across the Corn Belt.
NY · invasive species spraying, spongy moth & spotted lanternfly
Northeast region's premier invasive species drone spraying provider, based in Herkimer, NY. Operated by Rick Jordan and Bennett Sluis. Uses NOP-certified Foray 48B for spongy moth control. Also handles herbicide, fungicide, aquatic vegetation control, cover crop seeding, and mapping. Featured on PBS. Listed on PA DCNR aerial applicator list.
NJ veteran nonprofit · ag spraying + veteran drone career training
Veteran-based nonprofit providing agricultural drone spray services and training veterans for drone careers. Founded by 45+ year private pilot Michael Parziale in Manasquan, NJ. Operates DJI Agras T10, T30, T40, and Mavic 3M. Provides liquid and granular application, search and rescue, and drone sales.
NJ · 50+ drone fleet, 123.5 acres/hr, DJI Agras T20 launch customer
Morristown, NJ operator founded 2020 by commercial airline pilots. DJI Agras T20 launch customer (purchased 49 units). Fleet of 50+ Agras drones capable of flying 5 simultaneously covering 123.5 acres/hour. Services include agricultural spraying, cover crop seeding, greenhouse whitewashing, Part 107 training, and drone leasing. Serves NJ, NY, CT, IL, and GA.
Cereal rye, annual ryegrass, crimson clover, red clover, hairy vetch, oats, radishes, and custom blends work well with drone seeding. Seed must be sized and prepared for aerial broadcast. Large-seeded crops like soybeans are not practical for drone seeding.
In the Corn Belt, the optimal window is late July through early October. Iowa operators typically seed August through early September. Ohio operators extend into early October. Timing depends on cash crop maturity, expected rainfall, and NRCS cost-share deadlines.
There are 3 operators offering cover crop seeding drone services in New Jersey: CNY Drone Services Inc., U.S.A.R. Drone Team — Agra Spray Team, Alpha Drones USA.