Cotton drone spraying cost in Texas
Researched per-acre cost to spray cotton by drone in Texas, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Texas
$1,280–$3,360
$8–$21/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Texas base rate
- $8–$21/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: 2026 Texas Agricultural Custom Rates Survey (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) - Flat Rate Aerial Application of insecticides/fungicides state avg $10.46, herbicides $12.64, growth regulators/defoliants $10.07; range $7-$21 (West TX herbicide avg $21.50); Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Custom Rate Survey landing page (survey archive, regional methodology - North/South/East/West); Kingdom Crop Spraying (Texas-based drone operator) - approx $15/acre drone spray application; American Spray Drone Coalition 2025 U.S. Spray Drone Industry Survey - national avg $13/acre (down from $21 in 2024)
What it takes to spray cotton in Texas
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 Texas: 2,337,631 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable cotton acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical cotton field in Texas?
The average Texas cotton operation works about 485 acres of cotton (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 4,822 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $3,880–$10,185 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Cotton field sizes & cost in Texas →
Sources & confidence
Texas estimate · high confidence · data as of 2026 — High confidence: direct 2026 Texas A&M AgriLife custom-rate survey breaks out Flat Rate Aerial Application by region. Statewide aerial averages run ~$10-$13/acre across categories, with a $7-$21 spread; West Texas herbicide aerial is costliest (avg $21.50). Row-crop typical ~$12 sits just below the Iowa anchor because abundant large open acreage and a deep fixed-wing fleet keep prices competitive; drone operator quotes (~$15) and ASDC national $13 corroborate. Specialty band reflects RGV citrus, High Plains vineyards, and pecans; costIndex 0.97 vs Iowa=1.00.
- 2026 Texas Agricultural Custom Rates Survey (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) - Flat Rate Aerial Application of insecticides/fungicides state avg $10.46, herbicides $12.64, growth regulators/defoliants $10.07; range $7-$21 (West TX herbicide avg $21.50)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Custom Rate Survey landing page (survey archive, regional methodology - North/South/East/West)
- Kingdom Crop Spraying (Texas-based drone operator) - approx $15/acre drone spray application
- American Spray Drone Coalition 2025 U.S. Spray Drone Industry Survey - national avg $13/acre (down from $21 in 2024)
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Other crops in Texas
Cotton drone spraying in Texas: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray cotton by drone in Texas?
- Drone spraying cotton in Texas typically runs about $8–$21 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.