Apply fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants with precision from the air.
Drone spraying is the most requested agricultural drone service in the United States. Commercial spray drones fly 8 to 15 feet above the crop canopy at 12 to 15 mph, applying fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, defoliants, and foliar nutrients at carrier volumes of 2 to 5 gallons per acre. Rotor downwash forces droplets into the canopy for coverage comparable to ground rigs at one-fifth the water volume. Drones are most valuable when fields are too wet for ground equipment, crops are too tall for tractor-mounted sprayers, or small and irregular fields make airplane application impractical.
National network · largest spray drone operator network in US, 30+ states
Largest spray drone operator network in the US covering 30+ states, based in Iowa City, IA and led by CEO Mariah Scott. AcreConnect platform (map.acreconnect.io) connects farmers with local operators. Stone Valley Drones (PA) is a network member. Sells DJI Agras T10, T30, T40, and XAG P100 Pro. Holds FAA Exemption 18929B.
Most operators charge $12 to $18 per acre for application only, with the farmer supplying the chemical product. Rates vary by region, field size, terrain, and product type. Small or irregularly shaped fields typically cost more per acre than large, open tracts.
A single commercial spray drone covers 20 to 50 acres per hour depending on the application rate, field layout, and drone model. A DJI Agras T50 averages 30 to 40 acres per hour in real-world conditions. Multi-drone fleets multiply throughput proportionally.
Operators must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate or valid exemption, and their state's pesticide applicator license with an aerial endorsement. They must also carry liability insurance.
There is 1 operator offering drone spraying drone services in Rhode Island: Rantizo.