How much does drone spraying cost in Ohio?

In Ohio, drone spraying runs about $7–$20 per acre for row crops and $18–$40 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 20% above 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 above in Ohio?

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. Ohio's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.

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

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 Ohio

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

Quick answer: Drone spraying in Ohio typically runs $7–$20 per acre for row crops (application only), about 20% above the national median. Orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops run higher — about $18–$40 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

Ohio

CropAcres

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

Estimated cost in Ohio

$1,120–$3,200

$7–$20/acre × 160 acres

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What’s driving this

Ohio base rate: $7–$20/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 2024.

Sources: Ohio State 2024 Farm Custom Rates Factsheet — 'Drone/UAV: Chemical (Fungicide etc.)' $14.64/ac avg, $15 median, range $7-$20, 22 responses (also Drone Seed $15.42, Drone Fertilizer $16.50); statewide survey of 333; Ohio Ag Manager — 2024 Ohio Farm Custom Rates Released (drone/UAV added as new operation); OSU Farm Office — Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2024

Drone spraying cost by crop in Ohio

Crop	Typical cost ($/acre)	Grown in OH (acres)
Soybeans	$7–$20	4,830,774
Corn	$7–$20	3,314,064
Wheat	$7–$20	480,146
Alfalfa & Hay	$7–$20	331,071
Oats	$7–$19	13,512
Barley	$7–$20	4,254
Apples	$18–$40	3,986
Specialty Crops	$17–$37	—
Pasture & Rangeland	$6–$18	—

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 Ohio

The crops that cover the most ground in Ohio, 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.

4.8M ac54%

3.3M ac37%

480K ac5%

331K ac4%

14K ac<1%

4.3K ac<1%

4.0K ac<1%

Potatoes

2.1K ac<1%

Source: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture 2022 — acres harvested (field crops) and acres bearing (tree, vine & berry crops). Broad categories like pasture and mixed specialty crops aren’t charted here.

What drives the price in Ohio

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).Ohio’s base rate also reflects local regulation, labor, and field geometry.

Sources & confidence

Ohio estimate · high confidence · data as of 2024 — Direct drone-specific survey figures: OSU 2024 reports Drone/UAV chemical application avg $14.64, median $15, range $7-$20 (n=22). Typical set to the $15 median, low/high to the surveyed $7-$20 range. costIndex 1.20 = $15 median / Iowa $12.50; Ohio's smaller, more irregular fields and lower operator density run slightly above the flat Corn Belt core.

106 drone-spraying operators serve Ohio, quoting roughly $10–$18/acre. Compare them and request free quotes.

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More on drone spraying cost

Ohio field sizes Cost per acre (guide)Cost calculator Cost by state

Drone spraying cost in Ohio: FAQs

How much does drone spraying cost in Ohio?: In Ohio, drone spraying runs about $7–$20 per acre for row crops and $18–$40 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 20% above 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 above in Ohio?: 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. Ohio's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.
Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in Ohio?: 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.