Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in Maine
Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Maine, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Maine
$2,352–$4,390
$15–$27/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Maine base rate
- $15–$28/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: US Ag Drone Directory — 2026 Drone Spraying Cost Per Acre (Northeast region PA/NY/VA/MD = $15–25/ac); University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Wild Blueberry BMPs (aerial application via fixed-wing/helicopter is established for ME specialty crops); Iowa State University 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (national anchor)
What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in Maine
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 Maine: 11,799 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 Maine?
The average Maine alfalfa & hay operation works about 41 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 285 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $603–$1,125 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in Maine →
Sources & confidence
Maine estimate · low confidence · data as of 2026 — No ME extension survey breaks out drone application rates, but UMaine documents an established aerial-applicator market for wild blueberries and potatoes (fixed-wing/helicopter). Derived from the Northeast (PA/NY) analog ($15–25/ac) scaled ~1.32x Iowa — the LOWEST in New England — because Aroostook potato ground and the blueberry barrens offer more contiguous, accessible acreage and a real resident aerial-applicator base, partly pulling rates toward the Iowa end; offset upward by long travel distances within a large rural state. Specialty band (blueberry/orchard/vineyard) stays elevated for multi-pass high-value work. Spread widened ~15% for derivation uncertainty.
- US Ag Drone Directory — 2026 Drone Spraying Cost Per Acre (Northeast region PA/NY/VA/MD = $15–25/ac)
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Wild Blueberry BMPs (aerial application via fixed-wing/helicopter is established for ME specialty crops)
- Iowa State University 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (national anchor)
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Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying in Maine: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Maine?
- Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in Maine typically runs about $15–$27 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.