How much does it cost to spray barley by drone in Illinois?

Drone spraying barley in Illinois typically runs about $10–$18 per acre (application only, product extra). Carrier volume, passes, field size, and product move the final number — compare operator quotes for an exact price.

Barley drone spraying cost in Illinois

Researched per-acre cost to spray barley by drone in Illinois, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.

Quick answer: Drone spraying for barley in Illinois typically runs $10–$18 per acre (application only). Flag-leaf fungicide for scald, net blotch, and Fusarium — the same tight timing as wheat, so aerial application wins when fields are wet. Typical carrier volume is 2–3 GPA over 1 (flag-leaf fungicide).

State

Illinois

CropAcres

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

Estimated cost in Illinois

$1,600–$2,880

$10–$18/acre × 160 acres

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What’s driving this

Illinois base rate: $10–$18/acre (row crop)
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 2025.

Sources: Shaw Local (Aug 2025) — three Illinois spray-drone operators charge $12-$15/ac; one quotes $12/ac for fungicide to stay competitive with manned aerial; AgFly Illinois — in-state aerial/drone fungicide application rate card; Illinois farmdoc 2025 Machinery Cost Estimates: Field Operations (ground spraying cost reference; no separate aerial/drone line); AgDroneDirectory — Illinois page & Corn Belt $12-$17 row-crop band

What it takes to spray barley in Illinois

Flag-leaf fungicide for scald, net blotch, and Fusarium — the same tight timing as wheat, so aerial application wins when fields are wet.

Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
Typical passes: 1 (flag-leaf fungicide).
Grown in Illinois: 6,511 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable barley acreage for operators here.

Sources & confidence

Illinois estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2025 — Illinois farmdoc custom-rate publication does not break out aerial/drone application, so this is triangulated from multiple in-state operator quotes ($12-$15, one at $12 fungicide) plus the Corn Belt $12-$17 regional band. Operators explicitly price to match the Iowa-level competitive Corn Belt market, hence costIndex 1.00 (same as Iowa).

24 Illinois operators treat barley. Request free quotes.

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Other crops in Illinois

Corn Soybeans Wheat Alfalfa & Hay Oats Potatoes Sorghum Specialty Crops All Illinois costs

Barley drone spraying in Illinois: FAQs

How much does it cost to spray barley by drone in Illinois?: Drone spraying barley in Illinois typically runs about $10–$18 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 barley?: Barley is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1 (flag-leaf fungicide). Flag-leaf fungicide for scald, net blotch, and Fusarium — the same tight timing as wheat, so aerial application wins when fields are wet.