Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying cost in Wisconsin
Researched per-acre cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Wisconsin, the agronomy that drives it, and operators who cover your area.
Estimated cost in Wisconsin
$1,725–$3,450
$11–$22/acre × 160 acres
What’s driving this
- Wisconsin base rate
- $11–$22/acre (row crop)
- Crop
- ×0.98
- 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
What it takes to spray alfalfa & hay in Wisconsin
Insecticide for weevil and aphid between cuttings with quick turnaround and no compaction on established stands.
- Carrier volume: 2–3 GPA — higher volumes cost more per acre (more refills, fewer acres/hour).
- Typical passes: 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid).
- Grown in Wisconsin: 917,777 harvestedacres (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022) — so there’s real, sprayable alfalfa & hay acreage for operators here.
How big is a typical alfalfa & hay field in Wisconsin?
The average Wisconsin alfalfa & hay operation works about 45 acres of alfalfa & hay (USDA Census of Agriculture 2022, 20,230 operations) — so at these rates a field that size runs about $485–$970 per application. That’s an average across whole operations; a single field is usually smaller. Alfalfa & Hay field sizes & cost in Wisconsin →
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.
- 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
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Other crops in Wisconsin
Alfalfa & Hay drone spraying in Wisconsin: FAQs
- How much does it cost to spray alfalfa & hay by drone in Wisconsin?
- Drone spraying alfalfa & hay in Wisconsin typically runs about $11–$22 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 alfalfa & hay?
- Alfalfa & Hay is usually treated at 2–3 GPA over 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid). Insecticide for weevil and aphid between cuttings with quick turnaround and no compaction on established stands.