A Complete Guide to U.S. Drone Spraying Courses to Help Farmers Adopt the Latest Ag-Tech Tools
As interest in agricultural drone technology accelerates across North America, many farmers are looking for trusted, practical training to help them integrate spraying drones into their operations.
In response to this rising demand, Farms.com has compiled a comprehensive resource to help growers understand where to find reputable U.S. training programs for drone spraying—from universities to extension programs to specialized droneindustry organizations.
Drone sprayers are changing how farmers apply pesticides, herbicides, foliar nutrition, and cover crop seed. They offer precision, reduced soil compaction, better access to wet fields, and the ability to treat small or difficulttoreach areas. With these advantages, more producers are ready to take the next step—but they need training to do it safely, legally, and effectively.
Below is a curated list of organizations offering programs specifically relevant to spraydrone operation.
Kansas State University – Salina: A National Leader in SprayDrone Education
Kansas State University’s Salina campus continues to lead in agricultural UAS advancements. Their Aerial Applications & Regulations training is a twoday, handson course designed to help producers learn drone setup, calibration, maintenance, preflight inspections, and both manual and automated spray missions. Farmers gain a strong understanding of FAA regulations and the realworld operation of spray drones weighing up to 400 pounds.
Visit the Kansas State University website (link to https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/02/salina-agricultural-aerial-application-training.html) for more information.
AG Drones East: HandsOn Agricultural Spray Certification
AG Drones East provides a comprehensive program covering FAA Part 107 certification preparation, handson use of DJI and XAG spraying systems, equipment troubleshooting, and agricultural data analysis. This program is built for both beginners and experienced operators looking to expand into spraying.
Visit the Ag Drone East Website (link to https://www.agdroneseast.com/drone-training-and-certification/), for more information.
Agri Spray Drones: Multiple Training Formats for Farmer Schedules
With options including inperson, virtual, and selfguided training, Agri Spray Drones makes spraydrone education more accessible. Training covers mapping, drone settings, aircraft/remote setup, and foundational operator knowledge for spray missions.
Visit the Agri Spray Drones website (link to https://shop.agrispraydrones.com/pages/training-registration) for more information.
Alpha Drones USA: Training + Access to Advanced Spray Drones
Alpha Drones USA provides a unique program that includes FAA Part 107 preparation, handson spray drone training, and optional leasing of highquality agricultural drones like the Agras T20, T40, and T50. Farmers learn calibration, chemical application, and environmental adjustments for variable conditions.
Visit the Alpha Drones USA website (link to https://alphadronesusa.com/fleet/agriculture-drones-2/spray-drone-training-and-leasing/)for more information.
Iowa State University – Digital Ag Innovation Lab
Iowa State offers a fullday workshop titled Drone Spraying Essentials, designed for farmers, licensed applicators, and ag professionals. The event covers the basics of drone spraying, legal requirements, licensing guidance, safety considerations, and expert instruction from agricultural drone specialists.
Visit the Iowa State University website (link to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/new-training-event-offers-depth-look-drone-spraying-agriculture) for more information.
Purdue University Extension (Indiana)
Purdue Extension offers a robust UAV training program that helps farmers understand agricultural drone applications, regulatory requirements, and data collection. The training emphasizes precision agriculture applications, including spraying and remote sensing. https://www.sinclair.edu/program/params/programCode/UASAG-S-STC/
Visit the Purdue University website (link to https://extension.purdue.edu/uav) for more information
University of Minnesota Extension – Pesticide Certification Guidance
The University of Minnesota Extension provides guidance for farmers who want to legally apply pesticides with UAVs, including information on the General Aerial Endorsement and state pesticide license requirements. This resource is particularly useful for farmers navigating regulatory steps for drone spraying in Minnesota.
Visit the University of Minnesota website (link to https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2025/04/getting-started-with-uavs-for-pesticide.html) for more information.
Missouri University (MU) Extension – Drone Technology in Precision Agriculture
MU Extension’s precision agriculture program offers dronetechnology workshops covering scouting, mapping, nutrient assessments, and operational considerations that apply to dronebased spraying as part of broader UAV training.
Visit the Missouri University website (https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/precision-agriculture/drone-technology) for more information.
Michigan State University – Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT)
In partnership with Northwestern Michigan College, MSU IAT offers a UAS in Agriculture training program that helps students learn agricultural imaging, FAA commercial drone certification, and multiplatform drone operation across various crop types.
Visit the Missouri State website (https://www.canr.msu.edu/iat/certificate_programs/special-courses) for more information.
Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) – UAS Agriculture Certification
NMC hosts an intensive 4credit UAS agriculture program featuring handson experience with platforms like the DJI Agras T20P sprayer, including FAA certification preparation and applied training across orchards, vineyards, and row crops.
Visit the Northwestern Michigan College website (link to https://www.nmc.edu/programs/academic-programs/uas/msu-uas-course-info-page.html) for more information.
Sinclair Community College – UAS Precision Agriculture Certificate
Sinclair offers a shortterm technical certificate in precision agriculture that prepares learners for careers involving UAS spraying, sensing, and field data analysis—an ideal program for aspiring professionals entering agricultural drone operations.
Visit the Sinclair Community College website (link to https://www.sinclair.edu/program/params/programCode/UASAG-S-STC/) for more information.
UAS Agriculture (Private Training Provider)
UAS Agriculture offers both onfarm, personalized inperson training and online courses. Training is tailored to producer needs and uses advanced spray drones, making it a flexible choice for farmers seeking practical, operational proficiency.
Visit the UAS Agriculture website (link to https://uasagriculture.com/) for more information.
Penn State Extension – Drone Pesticide Applicator Certification
Penn State Extension provides detailed guidance for farmers wishing to become legal aerial pesticide applicators using drones, including FAA certification and Pennsylvaniaspecific pesticide licensing steps.
Visit the Penn State University website (link to https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-become-an-aerial-drone-pesticide-applicator) for more information.
Why Drone Training Matters Now More Than Ever
Spray drones are no longer experimental—they’re quickly becoming mainstream tools for U.S. farms. As regulatory requirements evolve and drone sizes increase, proper training becomes essential. Courses like those above give farmers the confidence and credentials they need to operate safely, stay compliant with federal and state regulations, and maximize the return on their investment in drone technology.
As drone spraying continues to grow, Farmers.com will keep providing timely, practical resources to help producers stay ahead of the curve. Whether you’re exploring drones for the first time or ready to add spraying technology to your operation, the programs above offer the foundational education needed to integrate drones successfully and responsibly into your farm business.
If you provide drone training and would like to be added to this resource list, please send us an email. (Link “send us an email” to agindustrynews@farms.com)
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