Drones can interseed cover crops into a standing canopy in late summer — something ground rigs can't do without damage — giving the cover a head start before harvest and freeing your fall.
Cover-crop seed calculator
Total seed0 lb
Bags needed0
Rates vary widely by species and goal — cereal rye is often ~50–60 lb/ac broadcast; check your seed tag and local NRCS/extension guidance.
How it works
- Timing: broadcast into standing corn/soybeans around late season (often around soybean leaf-yellowing or corn dent) so seed reaches the soil and germinates with fall moisture.
- Species: cereal rye, wheat, radish, clover mixes — pick for the goal (erosion, nitrogen, grazing, weed suppression).
- Rate up a bit: broadcast/aerial seeding usually uses a somewhat higher rate than drilled, since seed-to-soil contact is lower.
- Spreader kit: most spray drones accept a dry spreader attachment for seed and granular fertilizer.
Why it's a smart add-on
Cover-crop and dry-spread work falls outside the main spray window, so it fills your calendar and spreads your equipment cost across more acres. It also deepens grower relationships — the same customer, another service. See how added acres change your numbers in the ROI calculator.
General guidance; follow your seed tag and local NRCS/extension recommendations for species, rate, and timing in your area.
Want it sprayed instead?
Get a per-acre price in seconds — or gear up to fly your own.