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Drone Spraying in North Dakota: Licensing, Rates & Operators (2026)

By Eugen Manoli, Founder and Editor · Updated

North Dakota is the only US state with a formally separate Unmanned Aerial Applicator License, issued by the ND Aeronautics Commission ($200) in addition to NDSU pesticide certification. As of 2024, only 21 licensed unmanned aerial applicators served the state's 6.5 million acres of wheat and 5.8 million acres of soybeans. Rates run $12 to $17 per acre.

FAA Part 137 operators in North Dakota

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10 verified operators serve North Dakota. Tell us your ZIP and crop. We will text you up to 3 matches within 24 hours.

  • 3 operators max, never more.
  • $12 to $17/acre per acre typical.
  • Operators pay us, not you. We never sell your info.
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Get matched in North Dakota

Tell us your ZIP and crop. We will text you up to 3 verified North Dakota operators within 24 hours.

Typical row-crop application runs $12 to $18 per acre. Specialty and orchard work runs higher.

3 operators max, never more. Operators pay us, not you. We never sell your info.
10
Listed operators
$12 to $17/acre
Rate range / acre
Wheat
Top crop
ND Aeronautics Commission + NDSU Extension
Licensing agency

Drone operators serving North Dakota

Great Plains
Lincoln, NE
Featured

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.

Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingFertilizer Application
$12 to $16/acre
30K ac 4
Pro Ag Solutions pilot refilling a DJI Agras spray drone next to the company's branded trailer at a North Dakota soybean field
Pro Ag Solutions
Bismarck, ND

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.

Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓
Drone SprayingFertilizer ApplicationCover Crop Seeding+3 more
Price on request
AeroCrop Ag Solutions
Winfield, IL

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.

Drone SprayingFertilizer Application
Price on request
Elevated Ag Solutions
Central, IA

Central Minnesota precision drone service covering six upper Midwest states. Can begin work same day as initial site visit.

Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting
Price on request
Tenacity Ag (Frontier Precision)
Morris, IA

Leading upper Midwest ag spray drone dealer acquired by Frontier Precision. Sells XAG and DJI drones with on-farm demos training and service. MN location in Morris/Hancock area.

Pilot TrainingEquipment Sales
Price on request
Spotters Aerial Ag
Killdeer, ND

Western ND operator. Hired by Ward County Weed Board for 220-acre project. Multiple pilots/drones.

FAA Part 137 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop SeedingCrop Scouting+1 more
Price on request
Farmers Choice
Sidney, MT

Agricultural company with drone application division. Provides drone spraying for county weed boards, landowners, municipalities. Sprays about 400 acres/day. Also has offices in Lansford and McClusky, ND.

Drone Spraying
Price on request

Browse North Dakota operators by city

Bismarck(2)Fargo(0)Grand Forks(0)Minot(0)Williston(0)Jamestown(0)

Drone spraying licensing in North Dakota

Licensing agency
ND Aeronautics Commission + NDSU Extension
Official site →
Aerial category
Unmanned Aerial Applicator License (separate from manned aerial)
Core Aerial exam + category exam via NDSU. Then separate Aeronautics Commission license.
Renewal & CE
3-year cycle via recertification training or re-exam.
PAASS attendance required. Recertification every 3 years.

North Dakota is the only US state with a formally separate Unmanned Aerial Applicator License, issued by the ND Aeronautics Commission in addition to NDSU pesticide certification. The process requires a Core Aerial exam plus a category exam through NDSU (~$10 exam + $25 NDSU certification), followed by a $200 Aeronautics Commission license.

All unmanned aircraft must be registered with the ND Aeronautics Commission before use, and applicators must report acreage treated to the Commission by December 1 annually. PAASS (Professional Aerial Applicators Support System) safety meeting attendance is required. As of 2024, only 21 licensed unmanned aerial applicators with 46 pilots and 37 aircraft served the state. Reciprocity exists with SD, MN and MT.

North Dakota-specific rules operators must know

  • •Only state with a formally separate Unmanned Aerial Applicator License issued by the Aeronautics Commission.
  • •All unmanned aircraft must be registered with the ND Aeronautics Commission before use.
  • •Applicators must report acreage to the Commission by December 1 annually.
  • •As of 2024, only 21 licensed unmanned aerial applicators operated in North Dakota.
  • •PAASS (Professional Aerial Applicators Support System) safety meeting attendance required.
Reciprocity states
SD, MN, MT

Top crops for drone spraying in North Dakota

Wheat
6.5M acres

Hard red spring wheat. Heading late June to early July.

Corn
3.5M acres

Southeastern ND

Soybeans
5.8M acres

#2 soybean state after IA

Cover Crops
Growing

Short season limits establishment

Drone spraying guides by crop in North Dakota

Corn in North DakotaSoybeans in North DakotaWheat in North DakotaCotton in North DakotaRice in North DakotaGrapes / Vineyards in North DakotaOrchards in North DakotaCover Crops in North DakotaRow Crops in North DakotaPasture and Rangeland in North DakotaAlfalfa in North DakotaPotatoes in North Dakota
Region
Great Plains

North Dakota is part of the Great Plains agricultural region. See rates, crops and operators across the region.

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Drone spraying in North Dakota, frequently asked questions

ND is the only state with a separate Unmanned Aerial Applicator License issued by the Aeronautics Commission. This is distinct from the manned aerial applicator license and requires separate NDSU certification plus Commission registration.

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Neighboring states

South DakotaMinnesotaMontana
Wheat spraying →Corn spraying →Soybeans spraying →Cover Crops spraying →Great Plains region →2026 pricing guide →Spray cost calculator →Treatment calendar →ND Aeronautics Commission →NDSU Agriculture and Extension →