New MU Guide Helps Farmers Assess Drone Spraying Costs

By Blake Jackson

As farmers prepare for the 2025 growing season, a new University of Missouri Extension publication offers valuable insights into the economic feasibility of using drones for agricultural spraying.

"Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications" provides cost-estimating tools to help growers and custom operators determine if drone investment is financially sound.

Adauto Rocha, Jr., assistant extension professor, states, "These tools enable producers to calculate their own drone application costs based on their specific circumstances, helping them make informed decisions about whether drone ownership or contracting out spray services is more cost-effective."

The publication analyzes the costs associated with drone ownership and operation, focusing on the Agras T40 model.

It examines per-acre costs for both farmers and custom operators, considering factors such as depreciation, interest, maintenance, labor, and battery replacement.

For farmers spraying 1,000 acres annually, the study calculates a per-acre cost of approximately $12.27. This contrasts with typical custom hire rates of around $16 per acre, suggesting drone ownership is cost-effective for farms spraying at least 980 acres. For custom operators covering 4,000 acres annually, the per-acre cost decreases to about $7.39.

Battery replacement is a significant expense in drone operations. The study highlights that ownership costs, including depreciation, interest, and battery replacement, constitute the largest portion of the total per-acre cost.

Therefore, the economic viability of drone ownership hinges on the scale of operations and the number of acres sprayed.

The publication demonstrates that drones can offer substantial savings for large-scale farming, but it emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive cost analysis.

Developed by MU Agricultural Business and Policy Extension in partnership with the MU Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm, "Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications" is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g1274.

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