How much does it cost to spray wheat by drone in Missouri?

Drone spraying wheat in Missouri typically runs about $11–$19 per acre (application only, product extra). Carrier volume, passes, field size, and product move the final number — compare operator quotes for an exact price.

Wheat drone spraying cost in Missouri

Researched per-acre cost to spray wheat by drone in Missouri, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.

Quick answer: Drone spraying for wheat in Missouri typically runs $11–$19 per acre (application only). Fungicide at flag-leaf/heading for stripe rust and Fusarium head blight — timing-critical, so drones win when ground is wet. Typical carrier volume is 2–3 GPA over 1 (flag-leaf to heading fungicide).

State

Missouri

CropAcres

Gallons per acre (carrier volume)Restricted-use pesticide (certified applicator + records)

Estimated cost in Missouri

$1,760–$3,040

$11–$19/acre × 160 acres

Get real quotes in Missouri

What’s driving this

Missouri base rate: $11–$19/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 2025.

Sources: MU Extension G1274 — Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications: typical custom-hire drone rate ~$16/ac (modeled owner cost $12.27/ac, custom-operator cost $7.39/ac); MU Extension G1274 full PDF; AgDroneDirectory — Mississippi Delta band $14-$18/ac (Missouri Bootheel grouped here; strong manned aerial-applicator competition)

What it takes to spray wheat in Missouri

Fungicide at flag-leaf/heading for stripe rust and Fusarium head blight — timing-critical, so drones win when ground is wet.

Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
Typical passes: 1 (flag-leaf to heading fungicide).
Grown in Missouri: 471,565 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable wheat acreage for operators here.

How big is a typical wheat field in Missouri?

The average Missouri wheat operation works about 163 acres of wheat (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 2,894 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $1,793–$3,097 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Wheat field sizes & cost in Missouri →

Sources & confidence

Missouri estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2025 — MU G1274 cites a typical custom-hire drone rate of ~$16/ac; AgDroneDirectory places the Missouri/Delta band at $14-$18. Typical set to $15.50 (midpoint of the MU $16 figure and the Delta band), low/high $11-$19. costIndex 1.18 = $15.50 / Iowa $12.50; Missouri prices above the flat Corn Belt core due to strong manned aerial-applicator competition and Delta-market pricing in the south/Bootheel.

21 Missouri operators treat wheat. Request free quotes.

Get quotes in Missouri

Other crops in Missouri

Soybeans Corn Cotton Alfalfa & Hay Rice Sorghum Peanuts Potatoes Oats Pecans Barley All Missouri costs Wheat field size Wheat operators

Wheat drone spraying in Missouri: FAQs

How much does it cost to spray wheat by drone in Missouri?: Drone spraying wheat in Missouri typically runs about $11–$19 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 wheat?: Wheat is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1 (flag-leaf to heading fungicide). Fungicide at flag-leaf/heading for stripe rust and Fusarium head blight — timing-critical, so drones win when ground is wet.