Agricultural drone services for orchards in New York. Typical rate: $20–$35/acre/acre
Orchards cover more than 5 million acres in Washington, California, Michigan, and New York. Apple, cherry, peach, almond, and walnut operations benefit from drone applications for fire blight, powdery mildew, and codling moth control. Washington State surveys show 95% of apple growers are interested in drone spraying. Drones reach between-row positions in dense plantings and hillside blocks inaccessible to conventional airblast sprayers.
Green months = optimal application window
World's first drone pollination service · 25–50% yield increase
World's first commercial drone pollination service, founded 2017 in Syracuse, NY by Adam Fine and Matt Koball. Custom hexacopter fleet of 6 drones covers 40 acres/hour. Third-party studies show 25–50% yield increase. Won $500K Grow-NY prize and $250K GENIUS NY investment. First commercial apple pollination at Beak and Skiff orchard.
Finger Lakes NY · family-owned, NYS DEC certified pesticide applicator
Family-owned drone services business founded 2024 in Canandaigua, NY (Finger Lakes region) by Christian Smith, Don Burkard, and Hana Smith. Jay Franklin serves as NYS DEC certified pesticide applicator (Category 11) with 12+ years experience. Christian Smith is a mechanical engineer. Covers NY statewide.
Western NY · ISA arborist + FAA/NYS DEC drone pesticide applicator
ISA Certified Arborist firm in Clarence, NY fully licensed by FAA and NYS DEC for drone pesticide application. Operates a 5+ ft wingspan spray drone covering 27.5 acres/hour. Handles vegetation management, invasive species control, and agricultural spraying in areas inaccessible to ground equipment. Offices in Clarence and Rochester, NY.
Western NY orchards & vineyards · FAA Part 137 + NYS DEC certified
Founded 2024 by experienced drone pilots in western New York orchard and vineyard country. Fully FAA Part 137 and NYS DEC certified (Categories 1A and 11). Provides precision pesticide and fertilizer application, cover crop seeding, field scanning, mapping, and AI-driven field analysis. Based in Le Roy, NY.
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.
Drone spraying rates for orchards in New York typically run $20–$35/acre per acre for application only — the farmer supplies the chemical product. Pricing varies based on total acreage, distance from the operator's base, and product type.
Optimal timing for orchards drone applications is: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug. Exact timing depends on weather conditions and pest or disease pressure each season. Contact a local operator in New York for scheduling.
Drone spraying on orchards offers several advantages: zero soil compaction, ability to operate when fields are too wet for tractors, GPS-guided uniform coverage at 95%+ accuracy, and the ability to treat small or irregularly shaped fields. It also reduces product waste by 20–30% compared to ground equipment.