Rice drone spraying cost in Texas
Researched per-acre cost to spray rice 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 rice in Texas
Flooded paddies are impassable to ground rigs, so drones are a natural fit; higher carrier volumes are common for coverage.
- Carrier volume: 3–5 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: 1–2 (fungicide/herbicide over flooded paddies).
- Grown in Texas: 193,438 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable rice acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical rice field in Texas?
The average Texas rice operation works about 669 acres of rice (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 289 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $5,352–$14,049 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Rice 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)
1 Texas operator treats rice. Request free quotes.
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Rice drone spraying in Texas: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray rice by drone in Texas?
- Drone spraying rice 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 rice?
- Rice is usually treated at 3–5 GPA over 1–2 (fungicide/herbicide over flooded paddies). Flooded paddies are impassable to ground rigs, so drones are a natural fit; higher carrier volumes are common for coverage.