How much does drone spraying cost in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, drone spraying runs about $9–$17 per acre for row crops and $18–$33 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra). 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 what it does in Tennessee?

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

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

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 Tennessee

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

Quick answer: Drone spraying in Tennessee typically runs $9–$17 per acre for row crops (application only). Orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops run higher — about $18–$33 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

Tennessee

CropAcres

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

Estimated cost in Tennessee

$1,440–$2,720

$9–$17/acre × 160 acres

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What’s driving this

Tennessee base rate: $9–$17/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: UT Extension 2024 Field Crop Budgets D33 (self-propelled boom sprayer ~$11.13/acre custom spray operation); UT Extension Ag & Resource Economics budgets index; University of Kentucky 2024 Custom Machinery Rates (Aerial Application $9.50-$11.50-$14.50/acre) - regional analog

Drone spraying cost by crop in Tennessee

Crop	Typical cost ($/acre)	Grown in TN (acres)
Soybeans	$9–$17	1,571,542
Corn	$9–$17	807,824
Wheat	$9–$17	345,786
Cotton	$9–$17	331,791
Alfalfa & Hay	$9–$17	25,643
Tobacco	$17–$32	12,377
Sorghum	$9–$17	4,230
Specialty Crops	$17–$31	—
Pasture & Rangeland	$8–$16	—

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 Tennessee

The crops that cover the most ground in Tennessee, 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.

1.6M ac51%

808K ac26%

346K ac11%

332K ac11%

26K ac<1%

12K ac<1%

4.2K ac<1%

Oats

1.1K ac<1%

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 Tennessee

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

Sources & confidence

Tennessee estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2024 — UT 2024 field-crop budgets itemize a self-propelled boom-sprayer custom spray operation at ~$11.13/acre but no standalone aerial line, so the aerial/drone band is triangulated: UT ground-spray $11.13 plus the neighboring Kentucky 2024 extension aerial figure ($9.50-$11.50-$14.50) as a regional analog. West-Tennessee row-crop tracks the Delta but with thinner manned-aerial coverage and more rolling terrain, putting it at Iowa parity (costIndex 1.00). Typical $12, high $17. Specialty band slightly above Delta states given diversified tree-fruit/nursery and tobacco work.

29 drone-spraying operators serve Tennessee. Compare them and request free quotes.

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More on drone spraying cost

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

Drone spraying cost in Tennessee: FAQs

How much does drone spraying cost in Tennessee?: In Tennessee, drone spraying runs about $9–$17 per acre for row crops and $18–$33 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra). 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 what it does in Tennessee?: 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. Tennessee's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.
Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in Tennessee?: 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.