How much does drone spraying cost in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, drone spraying runs about $11–$22 per acre for row crops and $20–$34 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 28% above the national median. 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 above in Wisconsin?

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

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

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 Wisconsin

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

Quick answer: Drone spraying in Wisconsin typically runs $11–$22 per acre for row crops (application only), about 28% above the national median. Orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops run higher — about $20–$34 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

Wisconsin

CropAcres

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

Estimated cost in Wisconsin

$1,760–$3,520

$11–$22/acre × 160 acres

Get real quotes in Wisconsin

What’s driving this

Wisconsin base rate: $11–$22/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: UW-Madison Extension — Custom Rates for 2024 Wisconsin Farm Operations (Table 4: herbicide boom sprayer avg $11.48, range $6.75-$40; fungicide ground avg $11.90, range $8-$20); UW-Madison Extension 2024 custom-rate report PDF (Richland County mirror); agdronedirectory pricing guide — WI growers paid ~$18/ac for drone application in wet spring conditions; Corn Belt drone band $14-$22

Drone spraying cost by crop in Wisconsin

Crop	Typical cost ($/acre)	Grown in WI (acres)
Corn	$11–$22	3,065,380
Soybeans	$11–$22	2,144,830
Alfalfa & Hay	$11–$22	917,777
Wheat	$11–$22	240,287
Oats	$11–$21	64,593
Potatoes	$20–$34	64,267
Cranberries	$19–$32	19,400
Dry Beans	$11–$21	5,433
Apples	$20–$34	4,655
Barley	$11–$22	3,944
Specialty Crops	$19–$32	—
Pasture & Rangeland	$10–$20	—

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 Wisconsin

The crops that cover the most ground in Wisconsin, 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.

3.1M ac47%

2.1M ac33%

918K ac14%

240K ac4%

65K ac<1%

64K ac<1%

19K ac<1%

5.4K ac<1%

Source: USDA NASS Census of Agriculture 2022 — acres harvested (field crops) and acres bearing (tree, vine & berry crops). Broad categories like pasture and mixed specialty crops aren’t charted here.

What drives the price in Wisconsin

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

Sources & confidence

Wisconsin estimate · medium confidence · data as of 2024 — The UW-Madison 2024 Custom Rate Survey has NO aerial or drone line, so its ground figures (herbicide boom avg $11.48; fungicide ground avg $11.90) only set a floor. Row-crop drone band derived: Iowa $12-$18 scaled up ~10% (costIndex 1.10) for WI's smaller, hillier/dairy-country fields and the documented wet-condition premium (one in-state report of $18/ac). Specialty band (cranberry bogs, apple/cherry orchards, Driftless vineyards) scaled to the national $18-$35 orchard range and nudged up for terrain; medium confidence because drone-specific evidence is thin.

80 drone-spraying operators serve Wisconsin, quoting roughly $10–$75/acre. Compare them and request free quotes.

Get quotes in Wisconsin

More on drone spraying cost

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

Drone spraying cost in Wisconsin: FAQs

How much does drone spraying cost in Wisconsin?: In Wisconsin, drone spraying runs about $11–$22 per acre for row crops and $20–$34 per acre for orchards, vineyards, and specialty crops (application only, product extra), about 28% above the national median. 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 above in Wisconsin?: 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. Wisconsin's rate reflects those local factors versus the national median.
Does a restricted-use pesticide cost more to apply in Wisconsin?: 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.