Agricultural drone services for potatoes in Texas. Typical rate: $16 to $24/acre
In Texas, drone spraying for potatoes sits within the broader state custom-rate band of $12 to $20/acre, with the most comparable per-acre range for potatoes applications running $16 to $24/acre. Texas sits in the Great Plains region, which shapes the disease, drift and timing pressures local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Texas require Category 9 (Aerial Application) from TDA on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
US potato production runs roughly 1 million harvested acres per year per USDA NASS, with Idaho the dominant state at over 300,000 acres followed by Washington, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado and Maine. Potatoes are one of the most pesticide-intensive row crops in US agriculture, with an 8-to-12-pass fungicide program per season targeting late blight (Phytophthora infestans), early blight (Alternaria solani) and white mold. Drones serve potato growers in two niches: late-season fungicide work after the canopy closes and ground rigs cause yield-damaging row crush, and Colorado potato beetle insecticide work on small or irregularly shaped fields where airplane setup time is uneconomic. Per-acre rates run $16 to $24, higher than corn or soybean fungicide because of the application frequency and the precision required to keep pesticide off neighboring sensitive crops. Idaho potato operators book through season contracts that cover the full disease program; spot work for beetle outbreaks runs at premium rates with 24-to-48-hour turnaround. Operators serving potato growers should hold FAA Part 137 plus the state commercial pesticide applicator license with aerial endorsement and, on Idaho fields, a Confidentiality Agreement with the grower for scheduling against neighboring fields. University of Idaho Extension and the Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbook are the authoritative scouting references.
Green months = optimal application window
Texas requires Category 9 (Aerial Application) for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is TDA.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details: Texas state page · 50-state licensing reference · state extension service.
Great Plains wheat & corn specialist
Precision Air Ag serves wheat and corn producers across the Great Plains from our base in central Kansas. 5-drone fleet capable of 200+ acres per day. Our team handles wheat fungicide at heading, corn fungicide at tassel and cotton defoliation across Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. FAA Part 137 certified with $3M liability coverage.
American-made NDAA-compliant ag drones & operator network
Hylio designs and manufactures the AG-272, the leading NDAA-compliant agricultural spray drone in the United States and supports a national network of certified Hylio operators. The company provides sales, training and operator support for federal programs, defense-adjacent ag operations and buyers requiring US-manufactured drone equipment.
Texas cotton, brush control & winter wheat
Texas Ag Drones LLC is one of the largest ag drone operations in Texas, with a 7-drone fleet covering cotton, grain sorghum, winter wheat and pasture brush control. We specialize in cotton defoliant applications in the Rolling Plains and South Texas, and handle mesquite and cedar brush control in rangeland where ground equipment cannot reach.
AR · nationwide DJI dealer + custom aerial applicator since 2021
Nationwide dealer of agricultural spray drones and aerial commercial applicator based in Arkansas, founded 2021. Specializes in personalized customer care offering sales, service, parts, repair and custom spraying. Holds both FAA Part 107 and Part 137 certifications.
No job too big or too small
Texas-based operator covering TX, OK, and NM. Retired ag teacher Rod Brents combines traditional ranching with drone technology. Services include spraying, brush control (Brush Bullet), pasture management, right-of-way and solar farm spraying.
21 years pesticide application experience
Flying Cowboy Ag Services offers the most precise custom applications in Central Texas. 11 years flying drones, 21 years applying pesticides.
Central Missouri drone spraying company providing liquid and dry application across nine states. Fully licensed and insured.
Veteran-owned. Founded 2023. 100000+ acres applied. Licensed operators in 8 states including Iowa Minnesota and Missouri.
National franchise with Grapevine, TX location. FlightLine Network model. Also sells drones.
Founded by Coast Guard veteran. Highlights cotton defoliant capability (8 vs 16 day harvest window).
Texas Hill Country specialist in mesquite and prickly pear control.
East Texas specialist. Three spray crews. Serves 2-hour radius from Palestine and Longview.
Drone spraying and land solutions for agriculture, commercial and industrial sectors.
Locally owned in Washington County. Transforming traditional farming with drone technology.
Frisco-based DJI and EAVision dealer/operator. Hands-on training at HQ.
East Texas aerial applicator covering Palestine, Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches service area.
Civil construction company with drone division. FAA-certified, TDA-licensed. GPS-mapped spray.
North Texas operator and authorized DJI T100 dealer. Custom ag spraying and mapping.
Dual DJI and Hylio authorized dealer in TX Panhandle. Full service from sales to spraying.
Regional hub at 211 Highland Cross Dr, Houston. Also training facility near Kyle, TX. 200,000+ acres/year.
Multi-office company (West TX, East TX, North TX). Serves farms, ranches, solar, industrial.
Texas heritage-focused company. FAA certified, TDA commercially licensed applicators.
FAA Part 107, Part 137, 44807 exemption. TDA licensed. 682 acres first season. XAG P150 specialist.
Farm supply store with drone spraying division using DJI T40.
40+ years West TX farming experience. Bridges technology and agriculture for increased yields.
25+ years in agriculture, 4 years commercial drone flying. Jackson County Chamber member.
Full-service company: spraying, equipment sales and training. Uses centrifugal spray and multispectral.
FAA exemption holder (Docket FAA-2024-0251, Exemption 21952A). West TX operator.
Corvallis-based company specializing in forestry herbicide spraying with proprietary ML software for precision application; clients include Starker Forests; spray program covered 4x expected acreage in 2023
Drone spraying rates for potatoes in Texas typically run $16 to $24/acre for application only; the farmer supplies the chemical product. State-level custom-rate guidance for Texas averages $12 to $20/acre. Pricing varies based on total acreage, distance from the operator base and product type.
Optimal drone application timing for potatoes runs May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Exact timing depends on weather, growth stage and pest or disease pressure each season; contact a local operator in Texas for scheduling at least 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the peak window.
Commercial drone pesticide application in Texas requires three credentials: an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for the pilot, an FAA Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate for the business, and Category 9 (Aerial Application) from TDA. Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Drone spraying on potatoes offers zero soil compaction, the 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. Peer-reviewed studies (Nature Scientific Reports 2025, ScienceDirect 2025, ACS 2023) report 46 to 75% pesticide use reduction, 65 to 70% drift reduction at field boundaries and 90 to 99% lower operator chemical exposure versus ground equipment.
Potato drone spraying runs $16 to $24 per acre, the highest average among major US row crops because of the 8-to-12-pass disease program per season and the precision required to manage drift onto sensitive neighboring crops. Season contracts covering the full program are typically discounted 10 to 15% from spot rates.
Most Idaho and Washington programs run 8 to 12 passes per season, starting at row closure and continuing through vine-kill. Late blight pressure years can push the count to 14 or more passes on susceptible varieties. Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks publish current threshold and rotation guidance.
Drift control on neighboring sensitive crops, smaller-field economics, and faster turnaround on Colorado potato beetle outbreaks. Airplanes are still the workhorse on contiguous 500+ acre Idaho fields, but drones win on fragmented production, drift-sensitive borders, and the late-season canopy work after row closure when airplane wingtip drift becomes a liability.
June through September is the heart of the disease program in the Pacific Northwest. Wisconsin and Maine peak slightly earlier in June through August. Vine-kill applications in September close the season. Operators serving Idaho potato country are typically fully booked into season contracts by mid-May.
Same FAA Part 107 plus Part 137 plus state commercial pesticide applicator license with aerial endorsement that any commercial drone spraying requires. Idaho and Washington both publish potato-specific drift management guidance under their state department of agriculture; some Idaho operators voluntarily certify under the Idaho Potato Commission grower-operator coordination program.