Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in North Dakota
Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in North Dakota, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in North Dakota
$941–$2,822
$6–$18/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- North Dakota base rate
- $6–$18/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: 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)
What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in North Dakota
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 North Dakota: 1,418,313 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 North Dakota?
The average North Dakota alfalfa & hay operation works about 200 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 7,101 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $1,176–$3,528 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in North Dakota →
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.
- 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)
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Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying in North Dakota: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in North Dakota?
- Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in North Dakota typically runs about $6–$18 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.