An agricultural drone spraying business can be a very lucrative endeavor. Drone spraying has become increasingly popular in rural America and the data suggest that drones are here to stay (more on that below). At AckerSpray, we believe drones are vital to ensure high quality food production, not just in the United States but throughout the world. Here’s a comprehensive guide to starting your own ag drone spraying business in the US.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Ag Spraying Drones
2. Why are Spraying Drones Becoming More and More Popular
4. Overview of Regulatory Requirements
5. Get an FAA 3rd Class Medical First
7. Compare and Choose Your Drone
8. Line up Financing if Necessary
11. Submit Your Drone Registrations
12. Purchase Additional Equipment
13. Submit Your 44807 Exemption
14. Do a Service Demonstration
15. Obtain a State Pesticide License
16. Insurance (Don’t skip this!)
18. Consider Offering Additional Services
19. Have the Right Tools and Software
20. Start Spraying, Spreading and Mapping
Agricultural spraying drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with spray systems designed to apply insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other crop treatments efficiently. These drones are revolutionizing modern farming by offering precision spraying solutions that minimize chemical waste, reduce labor costs, and improve crop yields.
Ag drones have been around for a decade now, and have steadily grown and improved year-over-year. Traditional spraying methods like ground rigs, backpack sprayers and helicopters or airplanes face several challenges that can be overcome by a drone sprayer, such as:
Now that we have an understanding of the basics of ag sprayer drones, it’s time to get down to business. One question we get a lot is: “will this work where I live?” The short answer is yes, however, the best way to know is to talk to local farmers to identify their need for aerial spraying. Ask them how much they pay for crop dusting services, what’s the availability of the service and if they’re happy with it. More times than not, they probably don't have access to crop dusters when they need it or they don't do a good job. That's just the reality of rural America. Also, make sure to research your competitors. Talk to local seed and chemical dealers to find out who they are, and identify how much they charge and how much business they get per year. You know you’ll have a real business opportunity when you’re able to spray at least 3,000 acres per year during your first season, charging $12-$15/acre and preferably more.
After you have determined that there is a market for your services in your area, it’s time to dive into the regulation requirements. Ag drone pilots need to meet several FAA requirements before operating sprayer drones. Drones weighing less than 55lbs have different requirements than drones weighing more than 55lbs. In this section we’ll focus on drones that weigh more than 55lbs since most sprayer drones available today fall into this category.
As of late 2024, the 3rd Class Medical Certificates are no longer a requirement for operating a spray drone during daytime. However, as a commercial or private applicator, we highly recommend you obtain this to spray at night and maximize your opportunities.
To get a medical certificate, you’ll need to be certified by an FAA certified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
For a complete guide on how to obtain your 3rd Class Medical you can click here, and in this link you’ll find information on eligibility for this certificate.
This certificate confirms your knowledge of the regulations, operational requirements, and procedures necessary for safely operating drones.
If you need more information on Part 107, make sure to check out FAA’s website.
Drones weighing more than 55lbs need to be registered with the FAA. Registration must be done by mailing the several documents to the FAA.
Also, to register, you must meet one of the following criteria:
After processing your documents, the FAA will mail you a Certificate of Aircraft Registration containing the aircraft’s N number.
Drones weighing 55 pounds or more are regulated under 14 CFR Part 91 and require exemptions from certain provisions in 14 CFR Parts 61, 91, and 137.
You can find previously approved petitions here.
After receiving your approved exemptions, you can apply for your Operator Certificate.
Processing takes 2-10 weeks after all documents are verified. This wraps up initial FAA requirements.
Every state has Pesticide Applicator License requirements. We’ve compiled a list of ag departments for each State below. Click on the State(s) you intend to operate in to find more information:
American territories:
Puerto Rico | American Samoa | Guam | Northern Marina Islands | Virgin Islands
An FAA Medical Certificate can make or break your operations. Securing this certificate early on guarantees that will be able to spray your drones without any issues and with complete compliance. In the case of a denial, you can still operate during the day if the drone flies autonomously or contact your closest AME to see if any additional information would overturn their decision. Follow the steps outlined above to obtain this certificate.
Choosing a drone depends on your budget and desired use. Though there are many brands on the market, we continue to believe DJI has the best drones available. While XAG’s drones offer more productivity and larger payloads, DJI Agras drones come with a very user-friendly interface, allowing even non tech-savvy farmers to operate it efficiently, and at lower price points. Let’s look at the 3 main sprayer drones offered by DJI:
|
DJI AGRAS T50 |
DJI AGRAS T40 |
DJI AGRAS T25 |
|
|
Great fit for |
|
|
|
|
Spraying efficiency |
40 acres/hr |
40 acres/hr |
27 acres/hr |
|
Spreading efficiency |
1 ton/hr |
1 ton/hr |
500kg/hr |
|
Liquid tank payload |
10.5 gallons |
10.5 gallons |
5.2 gallons |
|
Dry tank payload |
110 lbs (19.8 gal volume) |
110 lbs (18 gal volume) |
55 lbs (9.25 gal volume) |
|
Swath Width |
32ft |
32ft |
23ft |
|
Max Flow Rate |
6.34 gal/min (w/ sprinkler kit) |
4.23 gal/min |
6.34 gal/min (w/ sprinkler kit) |
|
Price |
Advantages of T50 over T40
Though the specs are very similar, the AGRAS T50 does have advantages over the AGRAS T40, mainly:
Most new businesses in this space require north of $100k in capital to start depending on how many drones you buy, if you’ll need a new vehicle or not and if you intend to buy a trailer. Regardless of what you decide, financing can be a great tool to reduce your cash outlay. AckerSpray has partnered with APPROVE to provide easy and fast financing for ag drone operators throughout the US. If you're looking for financing, apply with APPROVE here.
Choosing a reliable dealer comes down to this question: can they support me throughout the spraying season? The reality of ag drone spraying is that you’ll face problems and hurdles. You’re gonna need parts quickly, you’re gonna need a support line that answers fast, and you're likely going to need training and regulations consulting. They must also have a streamlined way to offer warranty support, serving as a middleman between you and the manufacturer. Make sure whatever dealer you choose can provide these things to you. Pricing should be the least of your concerns as these will not vary much from dealer to dealer.
Now that you’ve decided on your drone and you have chosen your dealer, it’s time to purchase your drone. Remember to select a package or kit that allows you to spray all day continuously (this will usually involve at least 3 batteries), a 10,000 W plus generator and accessories. It’s also recommended to have some spare propellers as those can break easily.
Submit your drone registrations as soon as you get your hands on your drone. As explained above, this is a requirement to operate a drone for dispensing chemicals in the US. Our complete guide explains how to submit them in step-by-step.
Some additional equipment that you may require:
Please, note that some trailers may already come with all of this equipment. Make sure to do your own due diligence before committing to any trailers or other equipment.
One tip here is to purchase a 20kW generator or bigger if running 2 drones to save on costs.
By now it’s likely that you have received your drone registrations back and it’s time to submit your exemptions. If you have chosen a dealer that provides this service, they will take care of it for you. However, if they don’t offer it or you want to DIY, you can check out our in-depth guide on Part 137 and the 44807 exemptions. After your exemptions are approved, you’ll need to apply for Part 137.
Remember that this is a business and you want to be front and center of your customers’ minds. Though you haven’t (and legally can’t) start spraying, you may demonstrate your drone to your potential clients with water and give them a sneak peak of what’s to come. This may also be a great opportunity to sell to those that have been skeptical. Ensure to nurture your relationship with them up to the point where you can start providing services (and continue to do so after that).
Insurance is critical in this business. From chemical liability to drift and hull, you’ll want to be insured (it’s likely a requirement in your state as well). We have a few recommendations from our customers here.
At this point your business should be 100% legal, licensed and insured, so it’s time to go to market. We have given many tips above on talking to potential customers and doing demonstrations. We’ll now go over a few more strategies:
Oftentimes, farmers may want or need additional services that you could provide. For instance, with a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral drone you can map your customers fields quickly, scan and analyze their crops, and provide accurate and precise health information on their crops. This would also increase the value of your spraying services with variable-rate application. For ranchers, you could also offer search and rescue services, or livestock management with a thermal drone like the Mavic 3 Thermal or the Matrice 30 Thermal. Thermal drones can also identify illnesses and distress from above without disturbing the herd.
Having the right software to process data and correctly bill your customers will make running your business a lot easier. Here are a few recommendations:
One important note here is to always get paid in full as soon as you finish the job. Never accept net 30 payments or terms. You’re in the ag drone spraying business not in the collections business.
It’s now time to get to work. After completing all the steps outlined above, you’re ready to start spraying (and spreading and mapping). If you do everything correctly, your drone will pay itself off in one season. If you do really well, you might expand and buy a second drone in-season (it happens more often than you think). If you need any help throughout this journey, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re an end-to-end agricultural drone sales firm, providing not just drones, but also education, training, regulations compliance and more, supporting customers in-season and off-season as well. Request a quote here if you haven't already. Happy spraying!