Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in Kansas
Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Kansas, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Kansas
$1,333–$2,509
$8–$16/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Kansas base rate
- $8.5–$16/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: Kansas Custom Rates 2024 (Kansas Dept. of Agriculture / K-State AgManager.info) - aerial herbicide $8.50/ac avg, aerial insecticide/fungicide $8.49/ac avg, district range $6.50-$15.00; Custom Rates for Kansas landing page (AgManager.info / K-State); Great Plains regional drone spraying band $12-$16/ac (AgDroneDirectory 2026 pricing guide)
What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in Kansas
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 Kansas: 584,381 harvestedacres (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 Kansas?
The average Kansas alfalfa & hay operation works about 90 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 6,514 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $750–$1,411 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in Kansas →
Sources & confidence
Kansas estimate · high confidence · data as of 2026 — Anchored on the current (2024) Kansas Dept. of Agriculture / K-State custom-rate survey, which breaks out AERIAL application directly: aerial herbicide $8.50/ac avg, insecticide/fungicide $8.49/ac avg, cross-district range $6.50-$15.00. Conventional fixed-wing aerial is the floor; drone application triangulates slightly higher within the Great Plains $12-$16 band, so row-crop typical ~$12.5 (parity with Iowa). costIndex 0.98 reflects Kansas a hair below Iowa on open large-acreage ground. Specialty band scaled to national $18-$35 orchard/vineyard range; limited KS specialty acreage so typical held mid-band.
- Kansas Custom Rates 2024 (Kansas Dept. of Agriculture / K-State AgManager.info) - aerial herbicide $8.50/ac avg, aerial insecticide/fungicide $8.49/ac avg, district range $6.50-$15.00
- Custom Rates for Kansas landing page (AgManager.info / K-State)
- Great Plains regional drone spraying band $12-$16/ac (AgDroneDirectory 2026 pricing guide)
4 Kansas operators treat alfalfa & hay. Request free quotes.
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Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying in Kansas: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Kansas?
- Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in Kansas typically runs about $8–$16 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.