Montana State Guide

Montana

A large agricultural market with extremely low drone competition makes Montana a prime state for spray drone entrepreneurs.

59.2M Total Farmland Acres
2,148 Avg Farm Size
EXTREMELY LOW Competition Level

A Wide-Open Market for Drone Spray Operators

EXTREMELY LOW Competition — There are an estimated 0–50 drone applicators in Montana

Montana ranks 25th nationally in agricultural GDP, with approximately 27,000 farms generating over $5 billion in annual revenue. The state is a top-3 producer of wheat (both spring and winter), a major barley and pulse crop (lentils, peas, chickpeas) producer, and has significant hay and cattle operations. Montana's vast northern plains feature some of the largest individual farm operations in the nation.

Farmers here are tech-forward and responsive to new solutions, especially in high-value crops where precise timing is critical. Your equipment investment pays off rapidly.

Acres by Crop

Wheat
5,400,000
Hay/Alfalfa
2,500,000
Barley
870,000
Lentils
550,000
Peas
470,000
Corn
100,000
Safflower
60,000
Sugar Beets
45,000

How Drone Pricing Compares

Ground Rig

$8–14
per acre

Equipment is expensive, has limited range, weather-dependent, and poor for precision applications in varied terrain.

Drone

$8–16
per acre

Fastest deployment, highest precision, lowest environmental impact, and fastest payment at scale.

Manned Aircraft

$8–14
per acre

Higher cost, long lead times, and significant regulatory barriers. Limited adoption in smaller operations.

Top 5 Counties for Drone Spray Operations

1

Chouteau County

1,800,000 acres

Montana's top wheat-producing county on the Hi-Line with enormous dryland wheat, barley, and pulse crop operations; farm sizes routinely exceed 2,000–5,000 acres, making each customer a massive volume account.

2

Hill County

1,700,000 acres

Dense wheat and pulse crop acreage centered around Havre on the Hi-Line; large operations with growing interest in fungicide programs for disease management.

3

Richland County

1,500,000 acres

Eastern Montana's most diverse agricultural county with irrigated corn, sugar beets, and dryland wheat/pulse operations along the Yellowstone River; strong fungicide demand.

4

Teton County

1,300,000 acres

Major wheat and barley county on the Golden Triangle (MT's highest-yielding wheat region) with large irrigated and dryland operations.

5

Cascade County

1,050,000 acres

Centered around Great Falls with wheat, barley, and hay operations; good logistics infrastructure and proximity to multiple farming counties.

Seasonal Playbook — When & What to Spray

🌱 Spring (Mar–May)

  • Barley — herbicide application
  • Pulse crops (lentils, peas) — herbicide and early fungicide (Ascochyta blight)
  • Alfalfa — insecticide application (alfalfa weevil)

☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug)

  • Barley — fungicide application (net blotch, scald)
  • Pulse crops — fungicide application (Ascochyta blight on lentils and chickpeas) on 1421 day intervals
  • Sugar beets (RichlandDawson) — fungicide (Cercospora leaf spot)
  • Corn (irrigated, eastern MT) — fungicide and insecticide

🍂 Fall (Sep–Nov)

  • Cover crops — aerial seeding (limited but growing practice in MT)
  • Pulse crop stubble — burndown herbicide
  • Alfalfa — late-season insecticide

Active season: ~4-9 months (March–November).

Pricing, Economics & Break-Even Analysis

Here's the financial reality: equipment costs are significant, but the volume of acres you can cover makes the payoff fast. Most operators are profitable within 12–15 months of launch.

Ground Rig

$3–6

per acre. Limited precision and coverage.

Manned Aircraft

$6–12

per acre. Expensive, slower route to startup.

Drone (Your Advantage)

$7–13

per acre. Fastest ROI, competitive with manned, superior precision.

Your Equipment Package & Payment Flow

Equipment

$127,438

2× T100 Drones + Trailer

Down Payment (20%)

$25,488

Financed at 6%

Amount Financed

$101,150

36-month term

Monthly Payment

$3,083

Low APR agricultural financing

What Your Monthly Payment Looks Like in Acres

Acres/month @ $12/acre average

257 acres

Required for payment

Acres/year

3,083 acres

Across 8–9 months

Total to break even

9,250 acres

Over 36 months (easy target)

97–99%
Untapped Market

A significant portion of Montana's agricultural acreage remains untapped for drone spray services. High-value crops like peanuts and specialty applications get the best per-acre premiums.

Free Video Series
$65,000+
in Just 8 Days

Agriculture Is Changing. Are You Ready?

The industry is rapidly shifting from traditional ground equipment to precision aerial drone application. The window to build a drone spraying business before the market saturates is right now.

Watch Now

6% Agricultural Financing

  • Competitive 6% APR for new operators
  • 36-month term keeps monthly payments manageable
  • Quick approval process (24–48 hours)
  • Covers equipment + trailer in one package
  • No prepayment penalty
  • Dedicated account manager support

Ready to move forward? Get a quote and financing pre-approval in minutes.

(234) 271-2767

Call our financing team to lock in your rate and schedule a free consultation.

Apply for Financing

Montana Commercial Pesticide License

To legally apply pesticides from the air in Montana, you need a Commercial Pesticide Applicator License with the Aerial Mode of Application (AIR) permit from the state regulatory agency. The process is straightforward, typically taking 3–5 weeks from study to approval.

Minimum Age
18+
Exams Required
2
License Fee
$25/yr
Minimum Score
70%
CEU Requirement
6/year
Insurance Min
$1M
Time to License
3–5 weeks

From application to approval. Training class = faster route.

Study Materials

Montana Department of Agriculture

Phone: Phone: (406) 444-3140
Email: pesticides@mt.gov
https://agr.mt.gov/

nuWay FastPass

Get spraying while your FAA Part 137 clears. Work as a contractor under nuWay's certificate, start earning immediately, don't sit on idle equipment.

⚡

Start Earning in 1–2 Weeks

Don't wait 3–6 months for Part 137. FastPass lets you begin commercial spray operations immediately.

💰

Bridge the Income Gap

Generate revenue during the FAA approval wait. Most operators recoup 20–30% of their investment during FastPass.

✓

Stay Fully Compliant

Operate under nuWay's Part 137 certificate. All regulatory requirements are met — 100% legal.

🎯

Smooth Transition

When your Part 137 approval comes through, transition to your own certificate with no downtime.

Equipment → Part 107 → Class 3 Medical → Insurance → FastPass Approval = 1–2 weeks to start spraying

Learn More About FastPass Call (234) 271-2767

sales@nuwayag.com  |  nuwayag.com

Your Quick-Start Action Plan

Total Timeline: 8–12 Weeks to First Job

Equipment arrives, you get licensed, training happens, and your first customer is booked. The speed depends on when FAA Part 137 approval comes through. That's why nuWay FastPass exists — you can earn while you wait.

1

Call nuWay Ag for a Quote

Get a no-commitment quote on 2× T100 Drones + Trailer. Our team can walk you through financing options and timelines. (234) 271-2767

2

Apply for Agricultural Financing

Lock in 6% APR. Our financing team pre-qualifies you and you'll have approval in 24–48 hours. Most operators put down 20% and finance the rest.

3

Get Your Pesticide Applicator License

Apply at your state's agricultural department, study provided materials, and take your exam. The training class route takes 1 day + 2 weeks for approval.

4

Begin FAA Part 137 & FastPass

Start your FAA agricultural pilot cert (Part 107 + Class 3 Medical). nuWay FastPass lets you spray commercially while waiting for Part 137 approval.

5

Get Liability Insurance

Secure a $1M+ general liability policy. Quotes take 24 hours, policy is active within 5–7 days.

6

Schedule Free Training with nuWay

Free hands-on training is included with your equipment purchase. Learn aircraft operation, mixing, safety protocols, and regulations in 1 week.

7

Prospect Local Farmers

Reach out to farmers in your target counties. Offer a free demo spray to build your first case studies and client references.

8

Price & Book First Job

Price your services at $8–16/acre based on crop type, local rates, and application complexity. Book your first 257+ acre month and start spraying.

Sources & Citations

  • 1 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) — 2022 Census of Agriculture data
  • 2 FAA Part 137 agricultural aircraft operator registrations and drone applicator database
  • 3 Montana Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Applicator Licensing and Records
  • 4 Industry surveys (2023–2025) of commercial drone spray operators across the region
  • 5 nuWay Ag financial modeling and operator case studies
This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or regulatory advice. Always verify current regulations with your state's Department of Agriculture and the FAA before starting drone spraying operations. Licensing requirements, fees, and timelines may change.