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 ag drone operator network – SE & mid-Atlantic focus
Osprey Agri Drones is a national agricultural drone operator network with strong coverage across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic. The company coordinates multi-state fleet deployment for corn, soybean, cotton, peanut, and rice applications, offering operators in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and beyond.
Drone ag technology & application services – Southeast US
Volitant Technologies provides agricultural drone application services and precision technology solutions to row-crop and specialty crop producers across the Southeast. The company combines drone spraying with data analytics and remote sensing to deliver prescription-based applications for fungicide, herbicide, and fertilizer programs.
National ag drone operator network & marketplace
Avary Drone operates a national network of vetted agricultural drone operators and a booking marketplace connecting growers with local certified pilots. Coverage spans the Southeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic, with operators available for corn, soybean, cotton, and rice fungicide and herbicide applications, as well as cover crop seeding.
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.
Shenandoah Valley grain & poultry litter drone application
Houff Corporation, a major Shenandoah Valley agricultural cooperative, offers drone application services to member grain and livestock producers. The coop uses drones for precision fungicide programs on corn and wheat, and for poultry litter and dry fertilizer spreading on hillside fields inaccessible to conventional ground equipment.
Osprey network coverage for Virginia & mid-Atlantic producers
The Virginia division of the Osprey Agri Drones network serves grain, cotton, and peanut producers across Virginia's Coastal Plain and Piedmont. Osprey's multi-state fleet of DJI Agras T50 and T100 drones provides rapid scheduling for corn VT fungicide, soybean R3, and peanut late-season disease programs.
Statewide Virginia drone spraying & cover crop seeding
Virginia Ag Drones is a statewide operator providing drone fungicide, herbicide, and cover crop seeding services to corn, soybean, wheat, and peanut producers across Virginia. The company maintains crews in both the Tidewater and Piedmont regions to provide fast response times across the state's diverse agricultural landscape.
Virginia corn, soybean & wheat drone application
Apex Ag LLC is a Virginia-based agricultural drone operator serving corn, soybean, wheat, and cover crop producers across the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. The company offers fungicide applications, herbicide programs, and cover crop seeding, with scheduling designed to accommodate the mixed row-crop and livestock farm landscape of central and western Virginia.
Virginia drone ag application – grain, orchards & vineyards
Elevation Aerial Application provides drone spraying services to grain, orchard, and vineyard producers across Virginia. The company is equipped for steep-terrain orchard and vineyard applications in the Blue Ridge foothills and Appalachian highlands, as well as flat-ground corn and soybean fungicide programs in the Piedmont and Tidewater regions.
East Tennessee cooperative drone application program
Knox County Farmers Cooperative offers drone spraying services to cooperative members across east Tennessee, covering corn, soybean, and tobacco fungicide and herbicide applications. The coop leverages its existing agronomic and input relationships to provide bundled drone application scheduling, scouting, and product supply to member farms.
Eastern NC row-crop & tobacco drone spraying
North Carolina Ag Drones is an eastern NC operator providing drone fungicide, herbicide, and cover crop seeding services to tobacco, corn, soybean, and peanut producers. The company covers the coastal plain counties from the Virginia line to the South Carolina border, offering rapid deployment during critical spray windows.
Multi-state Carolinas ag drone network
Southeast Drone Solutions operates a multi-drone fleet serving row-crop producers across North Carolina and South Carolina. The company offers corn VT fungicide, soybean R3 applications, cotton defoliant timing, and cover crop seeding, with crews positioned across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain for rapid response during peak application season.
NC tobacco, corn & soybean drone application
Carolina Agri Drones serves tobacco, corn, soybean, and sweet potato producers across the North Carolina Coastal Plain and Piedmont. The operator specializes in fungicide programs for tobacco blue mold and black shank, soybean R3 applications, and precision herbicide placement for specialty vegetables, offering scheduling flexible enough to accommodate time-sensitive tobacco windows.
Osprey network coverage for Kentucky producers
The Kentucky division of the Osprey Agri Drones network delivers drone spraying services to corn, soybean, and tobacco growers across central and eastern Kentucky. Osprey operates a multi-state fleet of DJI Agras T50 and T100 drones, offering NDAA-compliant options and rapid scheduling for time-sensitive applications.
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.
Northeast · only identified XAG authorized dealer in the region
The only identified XAG authorized dealer serving the Northeast US. Also sells DJI drones and the Ceres Air platform. Offers precision aerial application, multispectral mapping, agricultural education, training, repairs, and drone sales. Partners with Virginia Ag Drones. Offers John Deere Financing.
MD/DE/VA precision ag drone · UPASS Foundation board member
Key Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia precision ag drone operator run by Earl Dyson out of Queenstown, MD. Operates DJI Agras T40 for row crop spraying (fungicide, foliar feed), orchard and vegetable pest control, and cover crop seeding. UPASS Foundation board member and speaker at UMD Extension Agronomic Drone School at Wye Research Center.
Mid-Atlantic DJI Agras premier partner · sales + service + training
America's premier DJI Agras drone partner with the largest ag drone parts inventory in the Mid-Atlantic. Founded 2021 by Kenny Strong in Smithsburg, MD. Sells and services full DJI Agras lineup including T100, T50, T40, T30, T25P plus multispectral and thermal imaging drones. Exhibited at Penn State Ag Progress Days 2025 and Keystone Farm Show.
Mid-Atlantic ag drone · fungicide, herbicide, cover crop seeding
Mid-Atlantic ag drone service founded 2024, participating in the Maryland Cover Crop Program. Provides chemical application (fungicide, insecticide, foliar feed, herbicide, deer repellent), cover crop seeding, and field mapping. Offers solutions for noise-sensitive areas and muddy or obstacle-filled fields on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
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 are 19 operators offering drone spraying drone services in Virginia: Osprey Agri Drones, Volitant Technologies, Avary Drone, Hylio, Houff Corporation Drone Services, Osprey Agri Drones – Virginia Division, Virginia Ag Drones, Apex Ag LLC, Elevation Aerial Application, Knox County Farmers Cooperative – Drone Services, North Carolina Ag Drones, Southeast Drone Solutions, Carolina Agri Drones, Osprey Agri Drones – Kentucky Division, Rantizo, AG Drones East, Scout Applicators LLC, Accurate Ag Drones LLC, Chesapeake Drone Ag.