Cotton drone spraying cost in Tennessee
Researched per-acre cost to spray cotton by drone in Tennessee, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Tennessee
$1,440–$2,720
$9–$17/acre × 160 acres
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
What it takes to spray cotton in Tennessee
Plant-growth regulators, insecticides, and defoliation mean several passes and higher carrier volume — and some products are restricted-use.
- Carrier volume: 3–5 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: Multiple (PGRs, insecticide, harvest-aid defoliation).
- Grown in Tennessee: 331,791 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable cotton acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical cotton field in Tennessee?
The average Tennessee cotton operation works about 624 acres of cotton (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 532 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $5,616–$10,608 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Cotton field sizes & cost in Tennessee →
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.
Get matched with sprayers in Tennessee
Rather than picking one operator, send one request and we'll match you with up to three verified drone sprayers who cover your area. Free for farmers — no fees, no obligation.
Request your free quote
Takes about a minute.
Other crops in Tennessee
Cotton drone spraying in Tennessee: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray cotton by drone in Tennessee?
- Drone spraying cotton in Tennessee typically runs about $9–$17 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 cotton?
- Cotton is usually treated at 3–5 GPA over Multiple (PGRs, insecticide, harvest-aid defoliation). Plant-growth regulators, insecticides, and defoliation mean several passes and higher carrier volume — and some products are restricted-use.