How much does drone spraying cost in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, drone spraying runs about $6–$18 per acre for row crops and $16–$30 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 12% below the national median. Field size, carrier volume (gallons per acre), passes, and product all move the number — request quotes for an exact figure.

Why does drone spraying cost below in North Dakota?

Per-acre rates vary by state with regulatory load (permitting, buffer zones, applicator licensing), labor and fuel costs, field size and geometry, and crop mix. North Dakota's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.

Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in North Dakota?

Usually a little. Restricted-use products require a certified applicator, extra recordkeeping and notification, and stricter buffers — a modest per-acre surcharge (often a couple of dollars an acre) on top of the base rate.

How does gallons per acre change the price?

Higher carrier volume (more gallons per acre) means more refills and fewer acres per hour, so per-acre cost rises with GPA. Low-volume row-crop jobs (~2 GPA) are cheapest; California and specialty orchard/vineyard work at 5–10 GPA costs more. This is where the technology has moved fastest, though — today's flagship tanks hold roughly 26 gallons, about five times the 2020 models, so drones now cover higher-GPA work far more efficiently than they used to.

Drone spraying cost in North Dakota

Researched per-acre rates for agricultural drone spraying in North Dakota — estimate your job, see the crop-by-crop breakdown, and compare operators.

Quick answer: Drone spraying in North Dakota typically runs $6–$18 per acre for row crops (application only), about 12% below the national median. Orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops run higher — about $16–$30 per acre. The final price depends on field size, gallons per acre, the number of passes, and whether a restricted-use product is applied.

State

North Dakota

CropAcres

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

Estimated cost in North Dakota

$960–$2,880

$6–$18/acre × 160 acres

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What’s driving this

North Dakota base rate: $6–$18/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: NDSU — 2024 North Dakota Custom Rates, Early Season Operations (By Aircraft, All Pesticides: 1gal avg $9.76 / most-freq $9.75; 2-3gal avg $9.77; 4-5gal avg $10.00; >5gal avg $11.25; full range $4.50-$25.00); NDSU Agriculture — North Dakota Custom Rates (landing page / report index); Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor for calibration)

Drone spraying cost by crop in North Dakota

Crop	Typical cost ($/acre)	Grown in ND (acres)
Wheat	$6–$18	6,171,456
Soybeans	$6–$18	5,570,984
Corn	$6–$18	2,676,500
Canola	$6–$17	1,702,791
Alfalfa & Hay	$6–$18	1,418,313
Sunflowers	$6–$18	670,623
Barley	$6–$18	626,944
Dry Beans	$6–$17	551,287
Sugar Beets	$16–$30	244,012
Field Peas	$6–$17	242,428
Oats	$6–$17	180,609
Flax	$6–$17	169,880

Cost is application only; product/chemical extra — estimates, so request quotes for exact pricing. Acreage is USDA Census of Agriculture 2022 (harvested acres, or bearing acres for tree/vine/berry crops).

What’s grown in North Dakota

The crops that cover the most ground in North Dakota, by acreage — every one is a candidate for aerial spraying. Share is of the state’s tracked-crop acreage in the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture.

6.2M ac30%

5.6M ac27%

2.7M ac13%

1.7M ac8%

1.4M ac7%

671K ac3%

627K ac3%

551K ac3%

Source: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture 2022 — acres harvested. Broad categories like pasture and mixed specialty crops aren’t charted here.

What drives the price in North Dakota

Per-acre rates move with the crop (dense orchard and vineyard canopies cost more than open row crops), the carrier volume (more gallons per acre means more refills and fewer acres per hour), the number of passes, field size and terrain, and whether a restricted-use pesticide is applied (which adds a certified-applicator and recordkeeping surcharge).North Dakota’s base rate also reflects local regulation, labor, and field geometry.

Sources & confidence

North Dakota estimate · high confidence · data as of 2026 — Direct, current extension survey. NDSU's 2024 Early-Season report breaks out 'By Aircraft (All Pesticides)' by carrier volume: averages climb from $9.76/ac (1 gal) to $11.25/ac (>5 gal), full reported range $4.50-$25.00. Typical $11 (aircraft average bracket), low $6 (large flat fields, low-volume work), high $18 (heavy-water/specialty passes; $25 max an outlier). costIndex 0.95 — slightly below Iowa: very large fields, deep established ag-aviation fleet, low-volume applications. Specialty band derived from national orchard range, set modestly below other states for ND's lower cost structure.

57 drone-spraying operators serve North Dakota. Compare them and request free quotes.

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More on drone spraying cost

North Dakota field sizes Cost per acre (guide)Cost calculator Cost by state

Drone spraying cost in North Dakota: FAQs

How much does drone spraying cost in North Dakota?: In North Dakota, drone spraying runs about $6–$18 per acre for row crops and $16–$30 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 12% below the national median. Field size, carrier volume (gallons per acre), passes, and product all move the number — request quotes for an exact figure.
Why does drone spraying cost below in North Dakota?: Per-acre rates vary by state with regulatory load (permitting, buffer zones, applicator licensing), labor and fuel costs, field size and geometry, and crop mix. North Dakota's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.
Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in North Dakota?: Usually a little. Restricted-use products require a certified applicator, extra recordkeeping and notification, and stricter buffers — a modest per-acre surcharge (often a couple of dollars an acre) on top of the base rate.
How does gallons per acre change the price?: Higher carrier volume (more gallons per acre) means more refills and fewer acres per hour, so per-acre cost rises with GPA. Low-volume row-crop jobs (~2 GPA) are cheapest; California and specialty orchard/vineyard work at 5–10 GPA costs more. This is where the technology has moved fastest, though — today's flagship tanks hold roughly 26 gallons, about five times the 2020 models, so drones now cover higher-GPA work far more efficiently than they used to.