Soybeans drone spraying cost in Michigan
Researched per-acre cost to spray soybeans by drone in Michigan, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Michigan
$1,760–$3,360
$11–$21/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Michigan base rate
- $11–$21/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: MSU Extension — 2026 Custom Work Rates Report (self-propelled boom sprayer engineering cost $9.62/ac; pull-type $6.60/ac — ground only); agdronedirectory — Drone Spraying for Orchards (MI named with WA/CA/NY; orchard drone $20-$35/ac, 6-12 passes/season); Growing Produce — drones for orchards/vineyards; MI operator (Aerial Ag Technologies, Battle Creek) ~$150/hr, DJI Agras T30 for tree fruit; Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (row-crop anchor)
What it takes to spray soybeans in Michigan
White mold and frogeye fungicide plus aphid control at R3; aerial cover-crop seeding into standing beans is increasingly common.
- Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: 1–2 (R3 fungicide/insecticide).
- Grown in Michigan: 2,349,749 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable soybeans acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical soybeans field in Michigan?
The average Michigan soybeans operation works about 216 acres of soybeans (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 10,875 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $2,376–$4,536 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Soybeans field sizes & cost in Michigan →
Sources & confidence
Michigan estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2026 — MSU's 2026 'Custom Work Rates' are engineering machinery-cost ESTIMATES, not surveyed market drone/aerial rates; its sprayer lines are ground-only and confirm no aerial line exists for MI. Row-crop drone band DERIVED from Iowa anchor scaled ~10% up (costIndex 1.10) for MI's smaller, tree-lined fields. Specialty band is well-supported: MI is a top-4 orchard drone-spray state (apple/cherry/peach/grape), national orchard band $20-$35 for 6-12 passes, with an in-state operator corroborating premium pricing. Confidence medium overall.
- MSU Extension — 2026 Custom Work Rates Report (self-propelled boom sprayer engineering cost $9.62/ac; pull-type $6.60/ac — ground only)
- agdronedirectory — Drone Spraying for Orchards (MI named with WA/CA/NY; orchard drone $20-$35/ac, 6-12 passes/season)
- Growing Produce — drones for orchards/vineyards; MI operator (Aerial Ag Technologies, Battle Creek) ~$150/hr, DJI Agras T30 for tree fruit
- Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (row-crop anchor)
Get matched with sprayers in Michigan
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 Michigan
Soybeans drone spraying in Michigan: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray soybeans by drone in Michigan?
- Drone spraying soybeans in Michigan typically runs about $11–$21 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 soybeans?
- Soybeans is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1–2 (R3 fungicide/insecticide). White mold and frogeye fungicide plus aphid control at R3; aerial cover-crop seeding into standing beans is increasingly common.