Ag Drone Spraying Cost Per Acre
Ag drone fungicide spraying typically runs $15–$28 per acre for standard fungicide work in Western Canada. Specialty crops run higher. Here's a transparent breakdown — and where the real savings show up vs a ground rig.
2026 ag drone pricing
Fungicide (corn, wheat, canola)
$18–$28 / acAbove-canopy passes hit leaf undersides ground rigs miss.
Broadacre fungicide pass
$15–$22 / acStandard 2–3 gal/ac rate, drift-reduction adjuvant included.
Specialty / orchard / vineyard
$25–$40 / acTight buffers, irregular shapes, slower planned passes.
Dry fertilizer / seed drops
$12–$20 / acCover crop seeding and granular nutrient broadcasts.
NDVI / multispectral scouting
$3–$6 / acOften free with a spray booking — turns a flat rate into a prescription.
Where the real savings hide
- ▸~30% less chemical. Variable-rate prescriptions only treat zones that need treating.
- ▸~40% less water. 2–3 gal/ac vs 10–15 gal/ac on a ground rig — fewer refills, less hauling.
- ▸Zero soil compaction. No wheel tracks means no yield loss strips through your field.
- ▸Spray wet ground. A drone flies the day after a storm; a tractor sits in the yard.
- ▸Net: $18–$35/ac savings on a typical 160-acre canola fungicide pass once you add it all up.
Same-day pricing on your field.
Tell us the acreage, crop, and product — we'll quote the per-acre rate the same day. Text or call 604 BC DRONE.
Frequently asked
How much does ag drone spraying cost per acre?+
In Western Canada ag drone fungicide spraying typically runs $15–$28 per acre. Specialty crops like orchards and vineyards run $25–$40 per acre because of tighter buffers and slower planned passes.
Is drone spraying cheaper than a ground rig?+
On a flat per-acre fee, drone and ground rates are similar. The savings show up in everything around the spray: ~30% less chemical, ~40% less water, zero soil compaction, no wheel-track yield loss, and the ability to spray wet ground a tractor can't enter. Combined, most growers save $18–$35 per acre versus calling a ground custom sprayer.
What's included in the per-acre rate?+
Our quoted rate includes the chemical mix, water, drift-reduction adjuvant, the application flight, RTK-precision flight planning, and a digital application report (acres, gallons, geo-tagged coverage map, weather log) within 24 hours.
Are there minimum charges or travel fees?+
There's no hard acreage minimum, but jobs under 20 acres carry a flat call-out fee. Travel is included within 50 km of our base; beyond that a modest per-km fee applies, often absorbed on multi-day jobs.
Do I get a discount for booking a full season?+
Yes — season contracts and multi-field bookings (3+ passes) get the best per-acre rate. Most of our 2026 spray season is booking now.