How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Arizona?

Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in Arizona typically runs about $10–$25 per acre (application only, product extra). Carrier volume, passes, field size, and product move the final number — compare operator quotes for an exact price.

What carrier volume and how many passes for alfalfa & hay?

Alfalfa & Hay is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid). Insecticide for weevil and aphid between cuttings with quick turnaround and no compaction on established stands.

Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in Arizona

Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Arizona, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.

Quick answer: Drone spraying for alfalfa & hay in Arizona typically runs $10–$25 per acre (application only). Insecticide for weevil and aphid between cuttings with quick turnaround and no compaction on established stands. Typical carrier volume is 2–3 GPA over 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid).

State

Arizona

CropAcres

Gallons per acre (carrier volume)Restricted-use pesticide (certified applicator + records)

Estimated cost in Arizona

$1,568–$3,920

$10–$25/acre × 160 acres

Get real quotes in Arizona

What’s driving this

Arizona base rate: $10–$25/acre (row crop)
Crop: ×0.98
Gallons per acre: 2 GPA → ×1.00

Application only — product & chemical extra.

Sources & how this is estimated

Estimate only — actual rates vary by field size, terrain, and product. Application only; product/chemical extra. Data as of 2026.

Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension - Yuma/Maricopa County Field Crops Enterprise Budgets (cotton az2034) - shows pesticide application via grower-owned ground boom sprayer (self-applied), confirming AZ budgets do not carry a published custom AERIAL per-acre line; 2026 Texas Agricultural Custom Rates Survey (Texas A&M AgriLife) - West Texas aerial rates used as low desert row-crop (cotton/alfalfa) analog; agdronedirectory.com 2026 pricing guide - West Coast / California regional band ($20-$35 orchards; ~1.4x Midwest multiplier) used to bound AZ specialty and regulatory-overhead premium; American Spray Drone Coalition 2025 U.S. Spray Drone Industry Survey - national avg $13/acre baseline

What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in Arizona

Insecticide for weevil and aphid between cuttings with quick turnaround and no compaction on established stands.

Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
Typical passes: 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid).
Grown in Arizona: 304,623 harvested acres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable alfalfa & hay acreage for operators here.

How big is a typical alfalfa & hay field in Arizona?

The average Arizona alfalfa & hay operation works about 331 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 919 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $3,244–$8,110 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in Arizona →