Rice drone spraying cost in Louisiana
Researched per-acre cost to spray rice by drone in Louisiana, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Louisiana
$1,440–$2,720
$9–$17/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Louisiana base rate
- $9–$17/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 2026.
Sources: LSU AgCenter rice budgets (aerial fungicide/herbicide application embedded in custom operations); LSU AgCenter 2026 Cost of Production staff report (custom application line items); Ag Drone Directory 2026 pricing - Mississippi Delta tier, rice $14-$22/acre
What it takes to spray rice in Louisiana
Flooded paddies are impassable to ground rigs, so drones are a natural fit; higher carrier volumes are common for coverage.
- Carrier volume: 3–5 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: 1–2 (fungicide/herbicide over flooded paddies).
- Grown in Louisiana: 435,266 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable rice acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical rice field in Louisiana?
The average Louisiana rice operation works about 591 acres of rice (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 736 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $5,319–$10,047 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Rice field sizes & cost in Louisiana →
Sources & confidence
Louisiana estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2026 — LSU AgCenter rice/sugarcane budgets fold aerial application into custom-operation costs rather than publishing a standalone per-acre survey, so confidence is medium. Application-only manned aerial in the Delta runs ~$10-12/acre; rice-paddy and sugarcane complexity plus wet-field conditions push drone rates to $14-$22, so typical $12, high $17. Rice/sugarcane complexity nudges costIndex slightly above the MS/AR Delta floor to 0.96, still below Iowa. Specialty band reflects sugarcane fungicide (Headline-class >$30/acre treatments) and pecan.
Get matched with sprayers in Louisiana
Rather than picking one operator, send one request and we'll match you with up to three verified drone sprayers who cover your area. Free for farmers — no fees, no obligation.
Request your free quote
Takes about a minute.
Other crops in Louisiana
Rice drone spraying in Louisiana: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray rice by drone in Louisiana?
- Drone spraying rice in Louisiana typically runs about $9–$17 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 rice?
- Rice is usually treated at 3–5 GPA over 1–2 (fungicide/herbicide over flooded paddies). Flooded paddies are impassable to ground rigs, so drones are a natural fit; higher carrier volumes are common for coverage.