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

By Eugen Manoli, Founder and Editor · Updated

South Dakota requires Category 17 (Aerial Application) with a $35 license fee for 2 years, one of the lowest cost structures in the region. SDSU Extension publishes a detailed drone guide (P-00354). Rates run $12 to $16 per acre across 5.6 million acres of corn and 5.1 million acres of soybeans.

FAA Part 137 operators in South Dakota

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10 verified operators serve South 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 $16/acre per acre typical.
  • Operators pay us, not you. We never sell your info.
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Tell us your ZIP and crop. We will text you up to 3 verified South 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 $16/acre
Rate range / acre
Corn
Top crop
South Dakota DANR
Licensing agency

Drone operators serving South 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
Spray Drone Solutions
Iowa/South Dakota, IA

Started with three DJI Agras T30 drones in December 2021. Offers equipment sales setup consulting and compliance assistance. Sprayed tens of thousands of acres.

Drone SprayingEquipment SalesAg Consulting
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
TJ Aerosense
Huron, SD

SD's premier DJI Agras dealer. Farm 20,000+ acres/year with drones. Sells Drone Tender trailers.

FAA Part 137 ✓
Drone SprayingEquipment Sales
Price on request
Williams Drones
Mitchell, SD

First SD drone spray applicators (August 2020). Rantizo subcontractor. RTK sub-inch accuracy.

FAA Part 137 ✓
Drone SprayingCover Crop Seeding
Price on request

Browse South Dakota operators by city

Mitchell(1)Sioux Falls(0)Brookings(0)Aberdeen(0)Watertown(0)

Drone spraying licensing in South Dakota

Licensing agency
South Dakota DANR
Official site →
Aerial category
Category 17: Aerial Application (General + Category G + Category 17)
Core Category G + Category 17 + 1 use category. License $35/2yr.
Renewal & CE
2-year cycle via recertification classes or online course.
Recertification every 2 years via classes or online.

South Dakota pesticide licensing is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) under Category 17 (Aerial Application). Applicators need Core Category G (General) plus Category 17 plus at least one use category. License fees are $35 for 2 years, one of the lowest fee structures in the Great Plains.

Remote ID compliance has been required since September 2023 for all commercial UAS operations. SDSU Extension publishes a detailed drone pesticide application guide (P-00354, updated September 2025). Recertification is required every 2 years via classes or online course. Reciprocity exists with MT, ND, MN, IA, NE and WY.

South Dakota-specific rules operators must know

  • •Class 3 Medical certificate may be required.
  • •Remote ID compliance required since September 2023.
  • •SDSU Extension publishes a detailed drone pesticide application guide (P-00354).
Reciprocity states
MT, ND, MN, IA, NE, WY

Top crops for drone spraying in South Dakota

Corn
5.6M acres

Eastern SD

Soybeans
5.1M acres

Strong growth area

Wheat
2.2M acres

Spring and winter wheat

Cover Crops
Growing

EQIP participation

Drone spraying guides by crop in South Dakota

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

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

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Drone spraying in South Dakota, frequently asked questions

$12 to $16 per acre for row crops. Eastern SD (corn/soybean) is competitive with Iowa pricing. Western SD wheat fields are larger with slightly lower rates.

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Neighboring states

North DakotaMinnesotaIowaNebraskaWyomingMontana
Corn spraying →Soybeans spraying →Wheat spraying →Cover Crops spraying →Great Plains region →2026 pricing guide →Spray cost calculator →Treatment calendar →SD DANR Pesticide Applicators →SDSU Extension Drone Guide P-00354 →SDSU Extension →