Training programs for FAA Part 107, Part 137 exemption prep, state pesticide applicator prep and manufacturer-specific drone operator certification.
Ag Drone Pilot Training drone services in Virginia are listed by 9 operators in this directory. Typical pricing for ag drone pilot training runs $500 to $4500/acre (per course). Virginia sits in the Southeast region, which shapes the calendar, weather and competitive pressure local operators plan around. Commercial drone applications in Virginia require Category 11: Aerial Pesticide Application from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) on top of FAA Part 137 certification.
Ag drone pilot training courses cost $500 to $900 for basic manufacturer operator certification (DJI T50, Hylio AG-272), $2,500 to $4,500 for full FAA Part 137 exemption prep packages and $75 to $300 per state pesticide applicator license category. Third-party trainers include Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions and Drone Pilot Ground School, plus manufacturer academies and state extension universities. Total investment for a new commercial ag drone operator typically runs $3,500 to $6,000 across all three certification tracks.
Ag drone pilot training covers the three certifications a commercial ag drone operator needs: FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, FAA Part 137 agricultural aircraft operator certificate prep (including the 44807 exemption path for drones over 55 lbs) and state commercial pesticide applicator licensing with aerial category endorsement. Training providers include manufacturer academies (DJI Agras, Hylio Academy, XAG Training Center), third-party specialists (Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions, Drone Pilot Ground School) and state extension universities (Purdue, Iowa State, University of Nebraska, Mississippi State). Typical programs range from a two-day DJI T50 operator certification at $500 to $900 to a full Part 137 exemption bundle at $2,500 to $4,500 that includes FAA paperwork support, operations manual templates and one on one coaching through the 120-day exemption approval process. State pesticide applicator prep courses are typically offered through state land-grant universities for $75 to $300 per category, with aerial category adding $25 to $100.
Virginia requires Category 11: Aerial Pesticide Application for aerial pesticide application. The licensing authority is Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details: Virginia state page · 50-state licensing reference · state extension service.
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.
Land-grant UAS precision ag research & Extension, Blacksburg VA
Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences operates a drone precision agriculture program conducting applied research on UAV-based spraying, remote sensing and variable-rate application. The program delivers producer workshops, Extension field days and FAA Part 107 training across Virginia in partnership with county Extension offices.
Shenandoah Valley sustainable ag drone research & training
Eastern Mennonite University's drone agriculture program integrates precision UAV technology with sustainable and regenerative farming practices in the Shenandoah Valley. The program offers producer workshops on drone scouting, cover crop seeding and low-input fungicide programs and conducts research on drone use in small and mid-scale diversified farming systems.
National · farmer-founded ag drone dealer since 2015
One of the earliest US agricultural drone dealers, founded 2015 by a group of farmers. Sells DJI Agras T50, T100 and Talos T60X plus sprayer trailer solutions. Provides training at IN/IL facilities. CropTech Solutions (Waterford, PA) is an authorized FlyingAg dealer. Contact: corey@flyingag.com.
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.
National · end-to-end DJI Agras sales, training & compliance in 33+ states
National agricultural drone sales firm providing DJI spray drones with end-to-end support: training, regulatory compliance (Part 107/137), insurance and financing. Explicitly serves 33+ states including NY. Sells full DJI Agras lineup: T70P, T50, T40 and T25.
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.
National · largest US ag spray drone distributor, 21K YouTube subscribers
Self-described largest agricultural spray drone distributor in the US, founded 2019 in Boonville, MO by Taylor Moreland and Kit Carlson. Distributes EAVision J70, J150 and RoadRunner 350. Maintains dealer locator and custom applicator maps. Hi-Aloft (PA) is an affiliate dealer. 21K YouTube subscribers.
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.
Federal regulators and industry references that govern ag drone pilot training in Virginia and across the United States.
9 operators in our directory list ag drone pilot training as a service in Virginia. Use the operator grid below to compare credentials, fleet, response time and pricing before reaching out.
Commercial ag drone pilot training in Virginia 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 11: Aerial Pesticide Application from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Confirm any operator you hire holds all three before any application.
Most Virginia operators book 4 to 6 weeks ahead of peak windows; pricing confirmation is contract-bound and operator-specific. For one-off jobs during peak demand spikes, supply tightens fast — establishing the operator relationship in the off-season pays off.
Three certifications: FAA Part 107 (remote pilot), FAA Part 137 (agricultural aircraft operator certificate) and a state commercial pesticide applicator license with aerial category endorsement. Drones over 55 lbs also require a Section 44807 exemption from FAA, which is part of the Part 137 application package for most operators.
Part 107 runs about 2 to 4 weeks of study plus the proctored exam. State pesticide applicator licensing runs 1 to 3 months depending on state testing schedules. Part 137 plus the 44807 exemption runs 90 to 180 days from FAA submission to approval. Most new operators plan for a 6 to 9 month full certification timeline before taking commercial customers.
No FAA or state rule requires it, but DJI dealers typically require proof of either manufacturer training or equivalent experience before selling the T50. The 2-day DJI Agras operator certification runs $500 to $900 and covers safe operation, maintenance, software setup and field workflow. Hylio and XAG have parallel manufacturer academies.
Partially, yes. USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grants, Veterans Farmer Coalition scholarships and state beginning farmer programs all include ag drone training in their eligible expense categories. Applications are competitive and program availability varies by state and year.
Third-party trainers (Rantizo, Precision Aerial Solutions) focus on commercial business setup, FAA paperwork support and operations manual templates. State extension courses (Purdue, Iowa State, University of Nebraska) focus on pesticide safety, IPM and state regulatory compliance. Most operators end up taking both because they cover different certification tracks with minimal overlap.