Aerial
Spraying (materials not included)
University survey · 2026 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
$12.00 avg per acre
$0$5$10$15$20
Low $9.00 · High $18.00 · statewide
Custom aerial application rates in Iowa
Short answer · 2026 survey averagesAerial spraying: about $12–13 an acre. Aerial seeding: about $15 an acre.
Green = 2026 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach survey. Amber = what farmers report paying.
Range excludes the single lowest and highest response.
Aerial spraying
Priced per acre. Bars share one scale: $0–20. Bar = low to high; tick = average.
Drone
Spraying (materials not included)
University survey · 2026 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
$12.50 avg per acre
$0$5$10$15$20
Low $8.00 · High $16.00 · statewide
Aerial seeding
Priced per acre. Bars share one scale: $0–20. Bar = low to high; tick = average.
Aerial seeding of cover crop
Planting, Drilling, and Seeding
University survey · 2026 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
$14.70 avg per acre
$0$5$10$15$20
Low $10.00 · High $18.00 · statewide
Farmer-reported rates
Be the first Iowa report
No approved farmer reports for aerial application in Iowa yet. Once 3 or more are in, they show here in amber, separate from the survey.
Paid for custom work this season?
Share the rate, job and county. Anonymous, about 60 seconds. Reviewed before publishing. Not blended with the survey.
Report a rate you paidEstimate your job
Quantity × survey average. An estimate, not a quote.
Other states
Only rows for the same job and unit as this page, tagged with what the job includes. Survey years differ and aren't inflation-adjusted.
| State · survey | Includes | Job (survey wording) | Avg | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas · 2026 | Aerial spraying | Insecticides and fungicides Flat Rate Aerial Application (per acre) | $10.46 | $7.00–$21.00 |
| Aerial spraying | Herbicides Flat Rate Aerial Application (per acre) | $12.64 | $7.00–$52.50 | |
| Aerial spraying | Plant growth regulators/defoliants Flat Rate Aerial Application (per acre) | $10.07 | $7.00–$21.00 | |
| Georgia · 2024 | Aerial spraying | Aerial Spray (per acre) | $12.81 | $7.00–$44.00 |
| Aerial seeding | Aerial Small Grains (per acre) | $24.33 | $8.00–$55.00 | |
| Mississippi · 2024 | Aerial spraying | Aerial 3 gallon (per acre) | $7.50 | $7.00–$8.00 |
| Aerial spraying | Aerial 5 gallon (per acre) | $8.05 | $7.00–$9.00 | |
| Aerial spraying | Aerial 10 gallon (per acre) | $9.50 | $7.50–$11.50 | |
| Kansas · 2026 | Aerial spraying | Herbicide, aerial application (per acre) | $10.11 | $7.50–$16.00 |
| Aerial spraying | Insecticide/fungicide, aerial application (per acre) | $10.23 | $7.00–$13.50 | |
| Ohio · 2026 | Aerial spraying | Airplane or helicopter: chemical (fungicide etc.) (per acre) | $14.84 | $11.00–$20.00 |
| Aerial spraying | Drone: chemical (fungicide etc.) (per acre) | $14.98 | $8.00–$20.00 | |
| Aerial seeding | Airplane or helicopter: seed (per acre) | $14.44 | $10.00–$20.00 | |
| Aerial seeding | Drone: seed (per acre) | $15.64 | $11.00–$22.00 | |
| Arkansas | No university survey; farmer reports wanted | |||
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The CustomAcre Report
New survey releases, what farmers report paying, and changes that move custom rates.
Source
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey (A3-10). https://www.extension.iastate.edu/AGDM/crops/pdf/a3-10.pdf. Other-state rows come from each state's survey; see all sources.
Disclaimer
Survey averages are not price quotes. Rates vary with field size, distance, crop, equipment, fuel and local supply. Farmer reports are reviewed before publishing and never blended with survey data. Full disclaimer.