Average alfalfa & hay field size in North Dakota
How big a typical North Dakota alfalfa & hay operation is, what it costs to spray a field that size by drone, and how to measure your own.
Average alfalfa & hay per operation · North Dakota
200 acres
USDA Census of Agriculture 2022 · 7,101 operations · 1,418,313 acres of alfalfa & hay total. This is the average across whole operations — a single field is usually smaller, since most farms are split into several fields.
Cost to spray a 200-acre alfalfa & hay field
Pre-filled to North Dakota’s average alfalfa & hay acreage — adjust the acres, passes, carrier volume, or restricted-use toggle for your job.
Estimated cost in North Dakota
$1,176–$3,528
$6–$18/acre × 200 acres
What’s driving this
- North Dakota base rate
- $6–$18/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 2026.
Sources: NDSU — 2024 North Dakota Custom Rates, Early Season Operations (By Aircraft, All Pesticides: 1gal avg $9.76 / most-freq $9.75; 2-3gal avg $9.77; 4-5gal avg $10.00; >5gal avg $11.25; full range $4.50-$25.00); NDSU Agriculture — North Dakota Custom Rates (landing page / report index); Iowa State 2026 Farm Custom Rate Survey (anchor for calibration)
Drone-spraying cost by field size in North Dakota
| Field size | Cost per application |
|---|---|
| 40 acres | $235–$706 |
| 80 acres | $470–$1,411 |
| 160 acres | $941–$2,822 |
| 200 acresND average | $1,176–$3,528 |
| 320 acres | $1,882–$5,645 |
| 640 acres | $3,763–$11,290 |
Single application, application only (product/chemical extra). Carrier volume ≈ 2–3 GPA; typical passes 1+ between cuttings (weevil, aphid). Estimates — request quotes for exact pricing.
Measure your actual alfalfa & hay field
Averages are a planning starting point — your field is its own size. The field mapper turns satellite imagery into exact acreage in four steps:
- Open the field mapper. Go to the Ag Drone Sprayers field mapper and search your address in North Dakota or pan the satellite map to your field.
- Trace the boundary. Tap each corner of your field to drop pins; the tool closes the polygon and computes geodesic acreage.
- Read acreage and cost. See your field's exact acreage and an instant drone-spraying cost estimate for alfalfa & hay in North Dakota.
- Request free quotes. Send your mapped field to drone operators serving North Dakota to receive real, no-obligation quotes.
Sources & method
Field size: USDA Census of Agriculture 2022 — average acres of alfalfa & hay per operation (1,418,313 acres ÷ 7,101 operations). Average acres per operation is a proxy for typical field size; a farm usually contains several fields. Cost: researched per-acre drone-spraying rates for North Dakota (application only).
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Field size & cost in North Dakota
Alfalfa & Hay field size in North Dakota: FAQs
- How big is the average alfalfa & hay operation in North Dakota?
- USDA's 2022 Census of Agriculture reports about 200 harvested acres of alfalfa & hay per operation in North Dakota, averaged across 7,101 farms (1,418,313 acres total).
- Is average operation size the same as field size?
- No — and it's the most common mix-up. The 200-acre figure is the average alfalfa & hay acreage per farm; most farms split that across several fields, so a single field is typically smaller. For a real field boundary, trace it on satellite with the field mapper.
- How much does it cost to spray a 200-acre alfalfa & hay field by drone in North Dakota?
- Roughly $1,176–$3,528 for a single application (about $6–$18/acre, application only — product is extra). Extra passes, higher carrier volume, or restricted-use products raise it. Use the calculator above to adjust.
- How do I measure my exact alfalfa & hay field?
- Open the field mapper, trace your field on satellite imagery, and you'll get its exact acreage, an instant North Dakota cost estimate, and free quotes from drone operators serving your area — no app to install.