Sugar Beets drone spraying cost in Michigan
Researched per-acre cost to spray sugar beets by drone in Michigan, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Michigan
$2,976–$5,208
$19–$33/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Michigan base rate
- $20–$35/acre (specialty)
- Crop
- ×0.93
- 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 sugar beets in Michigan
Cercospora leaf spot demands a season-long fungicide program — one of the highest spray counts of any field crop, a strong repeat-drone fit.
- Carrier volume: 3–5 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: Multiple (season-long cercospora fungicide).
- Grown in Michigan: 143,143 harvested acres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable sugar beets acreage for operators here.
Sources & confidence
Michigan estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2026
- 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)
Sugar Beets drone sprayers in Michigan
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Other crops in Michigan
Sugar Beets drone spraying in Michigan: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray sugar beets by drone in Michigan?
- Drone spraying sugar beets in Michigan typically runs about $20–$35 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 sugar beets?
- Sugar Beets is usually treated at 3–5 GPA over Multiple (season-long cercospora fungicide). Cercospora leaf spot demands a season-long fungicide program — one of the highest spray counts of any field crop, a strong repeat-drone fit.