{
 "title": "Drone vs ground rig vs plane: crop spraying cost per acre (US state extension surveys)",
 "url": "https://whirrwork.com/compare/drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying/",
 "updated": "2026-10-27",
 "license": "CC BY 4.0",
 "attribution": "Whirrwork (whirrwork.com), from the cited surveys",
 "gate": {
  "rule": "every side >= 2 sourced prices",
  "counts": {
   "drone": 5,
   "ground": 7,
   "aircraft": 4
  },
  "pass": true
 },
 "notes": [
  "Survey averages of what farmers and custom operators reported charging or paying; not quotes.",
  "Materials (chemicals) not included.",
  "Ranges: min_max = lowest and highest reported; reported = the survey's published range; trimmed = excludes the single lowest and highest response.",
  "No currency conversion, no scaling, no Whirrwork estimate."
 ],
 "findings": {
  "ground_cheapest_in_every_survey_with_both": true,
  "drone_within_1_usd_of_aircraft_where_both_asked": true,
  "drone_premium_over_cheapest_ground": [
   {
    "state": "Iowa",
    "drone": 12.5,
    "ground": 9.35,
    "diff": 3.1500000000000004,
    "pct": 0.3368983957219252
   },
   {
    "state": "Ohio",
    "drone": 14.98,
    "ground": 10.22,
    "diff": 4.76,
    "pct": 0.4657534246575342
   },
   {
    "state": "Nebraska",
    "drone": 15.17,
    "ground": 9.85,
    "diff": 5.32,
    "pct": 0.5401015228426397
   }
  ]
 },
 "rows": [
  {
   "id": "oh-2026-ground-sp",
   "state": "US-OH",
   "survey": "Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Ohio State University Extension",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Spraying - Self Propelled Sprayer / acre",
   "avg": 10.63,
   "low": 5,
   "high": 25,
   "median": 10,
   "n": 105,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmoffice.osu.edu/sites/aglaw/files/site-library/farmmgtpdf/Ohio%20Farm%20Custom%20Rate%20Summary%202026%20August%204.pdf#page=3",
   "as_of": "2026-08-04",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "oh-2026-ground-pull",
   "state": "US-OH",
   "survey": "Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Ohio State University Extension",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Spraying - Pull-Type Sprayer / acre",
   "avg": 10.22,
   "low": 7,
   "high": 12.5,
   "median": 10.5,
   "n": 16,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmoffice.osu.edu/sites/aglaw/files/site-library/farmmgtpdf/Ohio%20Farm%20Custom%20Rate%20Summary%202026%20August%204.pdf#page=3",
   "as_of": "2026-08-04",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "oh-2026-ground-hc",
   "state": "US-OH",
   "survey": "Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Ohio State University Extension",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Spraying Late Season (High Clearance) / acre",
   "avg": 12.59,
   "low": 5,
   "high": 30,
   "median": 12,
   "n": 38,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmoffice.osu.edu/sites/aglaw/files/site-library/farmmgtpdf/Ohio%20Farm%20Custom%20Rate%20Summary%202026%20August%204.pdf#page=3",
   "as_of": "2026-08-04",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "oh-2026-aircraft",
   "state": "US-OH",
   "survey": "Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Ohio State University Extension",
   "method": "aircraft",
   "operation": "Aerial Application - Airplane/Helicopter: Chemical (Fungicide etc.) / acre",
   "avg": 14.84,
   "low": 11,
   "high": 20,
   "median": 15,
   "n": 40,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmoffice.osu.edu/sites/aglaw/files/site-library/farmmgtpdf/Ohio%20Farm%20Custom%20Rate%20Summary%202026%20August%204.pdf#page=4",
   "as_of": "2026-08-04",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "oh-2026-drone",
   "state": "US-OH",
   "survey": "Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Ohio State University Extension",
   "method": "drone",
   "operation": "Aerial Application - Drone/UAV: Chemical (Fungicide etc.) / acre",
   "avg": 14.98,
   "low": 8,
   "high": 20,
   "median": 15,
   "n": 42,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmoffice.osu.edu/sites/aglaw/files/site-library/farmmgtpdf/Ohio%20Farm%20Custom%20Rate%20Summary%202026%20August%204.pdf#page=4",
   "as_of": "2026-08-04",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ne-2026-ground-sp",
   "state": "US-NE",
   "survey": "2026 Nebraska Agricultural Custom Rates Report",
   "publisher": "Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Spraying Weed Control, self-propelled sprayer, rate per acre",
   "avg": 9.85,
   "low": 7,
   "high": 12.5,
   "mode": 11,
   "n": 29,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://cap.unl.edu/sites/unl.edu.ianr.agecon.center-for-ag-profitability/files/media/file/2026-nebraska-custom-rates-report_ada.pdf#page=6",
   "as_of": "2026-04-24",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ne-2026-drone",
   "state": "US-NE",
   "survey": "2026 Nebraska Agricultural Custom Rates Report",
   "publisher": "Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)",
   "method": "drone",
   "operation": "Crop Spraying by Drone of Fungicides, Insecticides, and/or Herbicides, rate per acre",
   "avg": 15.17,
   "low": 13,
   "high": 20,
   "mode": 15,
   "n": 6,
   "range_kind": "min_max",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://cap.unl.edu/sites/unl.edu.ianr.agecon.center-for-ag-profitability/files/media/file/2026-nebraska-custom-rates-report_ada.pdf#page=6",
   "as_of": "2026-04-24",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ks-2026-ground-herb",
   "state": "US-KS",
   "survey": "Kansas Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Kansas State University (LUSO) and Kansas Department of Agriculture",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Herbicide application, ground rig ($/acre), state",
   "avg": 8.57,
   "low": 5,
   "high": 18,
   "n": 196,
   "range_kind": "reported",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://www.agmanager.info/sites/default/files/pdf/CustomRates_2026.pdf#page=31",
   "as_of": "2026-05-08",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ks-2026-aircraft-herb",
   "state": "US-KS",
   "survey": "Kansas Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Kansas State University (LUSO) and Kansas Department of Agriculture",
   "method": "aircraft",
   "operation": "Herbicide application, aerial ($/acre), state",
   "avg": 10.11,
   "low": 7.5,
   "high": 16,
   "n": 44,
   "range_kind": "reported",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://www.agmanager.info/sites/default/files/pdf/CustomRates_2026.pdf#page=31",
   "as_of": "2026-05-08",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ks-2026-ground-insect",
   "state": "US-KS",
   "survey": "Kansas Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Kansas State University (LUSO) and Kansas Department of Agriculture",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Insecticide/fungicide application, ground rig ($/acre), state",
   "avg": 8.74,
   "low": 5,
   "high": 20,
   "n": 136,
   "range_kind": "reported",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://www.agmanager.info/sites/default/files/pdf/CustomRates_2026.pdf#page=32",
   "as_of": "2026-05-08",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ks-2026-aircraft-insect",
   "state": "US-KS",
   "survey": "Kansas Custom Rates 2026",
   "publisher": "Kansas State University (LUSO) and Kansas Department of Agriculture",
   "method": "aircraft",
   "operation": "Insecticide/fungicide application, aerial ($/acre), state",
   "avg": 10.23,
   "low": 7,
   "high": 13.5,
   "n": 48,
   "range_kind": "reported",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://www.agmanager.info/sites/default/files/pdf/CustomRates_2026.pdf#page=32",
   "as_of": "2026-05-08",
   "source_type": "primary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ia-2026-ground-sp",
   "state": "US-IA",
   "survey": "2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey (A3-10)",
   "publisher": "Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (via farmratebook.com)",
   "method": "ground",
   "operation": "Ground, broadcast, not incorporated, self-propelled / acre",
   "avg": 9.35,
   "low": 5,
   "high": 18,
   "median": 9,
   "n": 121,
   "range_kind": "trimmed",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmratebook.com/operations/spray-ground/",
   "as_of": "2026-10-27",
   "source_type": "secondary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ia-2026-aircraft",
   "state": "US-IA",
   "survey": "2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey (A3-10)",
   "publisher": "Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (via farmratebook.com)",
   "method": "aircraft",
   "operation": "Aerial / acre",
   "avg": 12,
   "low": 9,
   "high": 18,
   "median": 11.6,
   "n": 54,
   "range_kind": "trimmed",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmratebook.com/operations/spray-aerial/",
   "as_of": "2026-10-27",
   "source_type": "secondary"
  },
  {
   "id": "ia-2026-drone",
   "state": "US-IA",
   "survey": "2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey (A3-10)",
   "publisher": "Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (via farmratebook.com)",
   "method": "drone",
   "operation": "Drone / acre",
   "avg": 12.5,
   "low": 8,
   "high": 16,
   "median": 12,
   "n": 47,
   "range_kind": "trimmed",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "currency": "USD",
   "source_url": "https://farmratebook.com/operations/spray-drone/",
   "as_of": "2026-10-27",
   "source_type": "secondary"
  }
 ],
 "dataset_drone_rates_us": [
  {
   "low": 13,
   "high": 13,
   "currency": "USD",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "region": "US",
   "description": "US average custom drone spray rate, 2025 (down from $21 in 2024) — American Spray Drone Coalition survey",
   "source_url": "https://americanspraydronecoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-ASDC-Impact-Survey-Results.pdf",
   "as_of": "2026-01"
  },
  {
   "low": 16,
   "high": 16,
   "currency": "USD",
   "unit": "per acre",
   "region": "US",
   "description": "Typical custom hire rate for drone spray application (vs ~$12.50/acre crop duster) — University of Missouri Extension",
   "source_url": "https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g1274",
   "as_of": "2025-03"
  }
 ],
 "skipped": [
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:AR",
   "country": "AR",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:AU",
   "country": "AU",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:BR",
   "country": "BR",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:CN",
   "country": "CN",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:CZ",
   "country": "CZ",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:DE",
   "country": "DE",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:FR",
   "country": "FR",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:HU",
   "country": "HU",
   "drone_rates": 5,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:ID",
   "country": "ID",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:IN",
   "country": "IN",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:JP",
   "country": "JP",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:KE",
   "country": "KE",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:MX",
   "country": "MX",
   "drone_rates": 3,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:NG",
   "country": "NG",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:PH",
   "country": "PH",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:PK",
   "country": "PK",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:PL",
   "country": "PL",
   "drone_rates": 2,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:RO",
   "country": "RO",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:VN",
   "country": "VN",
   "drone_rates": 3,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  },
  {
   "pair": "drone-vs-ground-rig-vs-plane-spraying:ZA",
   "country": "ZA",
   "drone_rates": 1,
   "ground_rates": 0,
   "aircraft_rates": 0,
   "reason": "no sourced ground-rig or crewed-aircraft rate for this country"
  }
 ]
}