Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in Minnesota
Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Minnesota, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Minnesota
$1,568–$3,136
$10–$20/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Minnesota base rate
- $10–$20/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: agdronedirectory.com — Drone Spraying in Minnesota (state page); AeriAll — Custom Drone Spraying in Minnesota: Costs, Coverage, Results (operator rate card, $14/ac @1-2gal to $20/ac @5gal; market $12-$20); Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor, ~$12.50/ac typical); American Spray Drone Coalition 2025 national avg $13/ac (via agdronedirectory pricing guide)
What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in Minnesota
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 Minnesota: 744,117 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 Minnesota?
The average Minnesota alfalfa & hay operation works about 49 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 15,333 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $480–$960 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in Minnesota →
Sources & confidence
Minnesota estimate · high confidence · data as of 2026 — No aerial/drone line item exists in the U. of Minnesota custom-rate materials, so this is triangulated from multiple in-state drone operators rather than a survey. Two MN operator rate cards plus the directory's MN row-crop band ($12-$18) and the Iowa anchor all agree within ~25%, so confidence is high despite no extension survey. Southern MN Corn Belt is essentially an Iowa analog; costIndex 1.05 for slightly higher wet-condition/short-window premium and modestly smaller fields north of the Corn Belt. Specialty band scaled to the national $18-$35 orchard/vineyard range (MN has limited orchard acreage).
- agdronedirectory.com — Drone Spraying in Minnesota (state page)
- AeriAll — Custom Drone Spraying in Minnesota: Costs, Coverage, Results (operator rate card, $14/ac @1-2gal to $20/ac @5gal; market $12-$20)
- Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor, ~$12.50/ac typical)
- American Spray Drone Coalition 2025 national avg $13/ac (via agdronedirectory pricing guide)
1 Minnesota operator treats alfalfa & hay, quoting roughly $10–$18/acre. Request free quotes.
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Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying in Minnesota: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Minnesota?
- Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in Minnesota typically runs about $10–$20 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.