Soybeans drone spraying cost in South Dakota
Researched per-acre cost to spray soybeans by drone in South Dakota, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in South Dakota
$1,280–$2,880
$8–$18/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- South Dakota base rate
- $8–$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: agdronedirectory — Drone Spraying in South Dakota (row-crop $12-$16 typical, broader $12-$18; eastern SD competitive with Iowa, western SD wheat slightly lower; Great Plains Drone Co. $12-$16/ac, 40-ac min); SDSU Extension — Custom Rates Survey (2026 collection in progress; in-state survey instrument); NDSU 2024 Custom Rates — By Aircraft (regional analog for western/wheat SD acreage); Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor for eastern SD Corn Belt)
What it takes to spray soybeans in South Dakota
White mold and frogeye fungicide plus aphid control at R3; aerial cover-crop seeding into standing beans is increasingly common.
- Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: 1–2 (R3 fungicide/insecticide).
- Grown in South Dakota: 4,858,553 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable soybeans acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical soybeans field in South Dakota?
The average South Dakota soybeans operation works about 534 acres of soybeans (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 9,096 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $4,272–$9,612 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Soybeans field sizes & cost in South Dakota →
Sources & confidence
South Dakota estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2026 — SDSU's Custom Rates Survey was still being COLLECTED in 2026, so this blends two analogs reflecting SD's split: eastern SD (corn/soybean) is 'competitive with Iowa' (anchor $12-$18), western SD (large wheat, manned aerial) tracks lower NDSU aircraft averages. Operator data (Great Plains Drone Co. $12-$16) corroborate the eastern band. Typical $13, low $8 (western wheat), high $18 (eastern fungicide). costIndex 0.98 — just below Iowa. Specialty band derived from national orchard range, pulled slightly low. Medium confidence: two analogs plus operator cards, no published in-state aerial survey number yet.
- agdronedirectory — Drone Spraying in South Dakota (row-crop $12-$16 typical, broader $12-$18; eastern SD competitive with Iowa, western SD wheat slightly lower; Great Plains Drone Co. $12-$16/ac, 40-ac min)
- SDSU Extension — Custom Rates Survey (2026 collection in progress; in-state survey instrument)
- NDSU 2024 Custom Rates — By Aircraft (regional analog for western/wheat SD acreage)
- Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor for eastern SD Corn Belt)
4 South Dakota operators treat soybeans. Request free quotes.
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Soybeans drone spraying in South Dakota: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray soybeans by drone in South Dakota?
- Drone spraying soybeans in South Dakota typically runs about $8–$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 soybeans?
- Soybeans is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1–2 (R3 fungicide/insecticide). White mold and frogeye fungicide plus aphid control at R3; aerial cover-crop seeding into standing beans is increasingly common.