When you ask for a quote for drone work in the field, the first question is almost always the same: how much is it per hectare? A fair price depends on several concrete factors, and the differences can be large depending on whether it is a flat plot in the Neretva valley or a terraced vineyard on Pelješac. In this article we break down what goes into the calculation and when it pays to be charged per hectare versus per day.
One thing needs to be clear up front: pesticide spraying by drone is currently not permitted in Croatia and the EU. Under the Act on Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NN 32/20) and Directive 2009/128/EC, a drone that sprays plant protection products is legally treated as an aircraft, and no product is approved for aerial application. So here we talk about services that are legal and available today.
What is legal to do with a drone
A drone is an excellent tool for a range of jobs that do not involve spraying pesticides:
- Mapping and orthophoto imagery of plots for records and planning
- NDVI monitoring of crop health and early detection of stress
- Foliar feeding with fertilisers and biostimulants
- Irrigation and spreading of permitted materials
The flight itself always follows CCAA (HACZ) rules with a registered operator. You can see individual services on the services page, and read about protection and regulations on drone spraying.
Factors that set the price per hectare
Area
The single biggest factor. The larger the plot, the lower the price per hectare, because the fixed costs of travel and setup are spread across more hectares. A small half-hectare plot always works out more expensive per hectare than a compact ten hectares.
Terrain and accessibility
Flat, open terrain is fastest and cheapest. Terraced plantations, slopes and narrow rows require slower, more precise flying and more planning. That is why, for example, foliar feeding starts at EUR 45/ha on flat ground and at EUR 65/ha on terraced terrain. For demanding locations, see difficult terrain.
Crop and type of planting
A vineyard, an olive grove and an orchard are not the same job. Canopy height and density, row spacing and crop sensitivity affect flight height and the number of passes. We describe crop specifics on the vineyards, olive groves and orchards and citrus pages.
Number of visits
A one-off survey differs from seasonal monitoring across several visits. More visits through the season means the fixed cost of a call-out is covered more times, but for repeat appointments with the same client a more favourable rate is usually agreed.
Per-hectare price or a day rate
For small and medium plots the simplest approach is charging per hectare. Indicative starting prices are:
- Mapping from EUR 20/ha
- NDVI monitoring from EUR 30/ha
- Foliar feeding from EUR 45/ha (terraced from EUR 65/ha)
For larger areas or a combination of several jobs in one day, a day rate is often more economical: a half-day call-out from EUR 450, and a full day from EUR 850. If you cover several neighbouring plots in one day, the day rate almost always works out cheaper than the sum of individual hectares.
Minimum call-out and travel costs
To keep a call-out viable, a minimum fee of EUR 120 applies, but it is waived for jobs over 3 hectares. For locations more than 30 km away, EUR 0.80/km is charged. This means that for small nearby plots it pays to join forces with neighbours and book a shared appointment, spreading the minimum fee across a larger area. A full breakdown of items is in the pricing list.
And drone spraying?
Many growers on Hvar, Korčula and Brač ask about treating crops by drone. As noted, that is not legally permitted for now. The EU omnibus reform announced for 2025/2026 could change part of the rules, but the outcome is still uncertain and we promise nothing in advance. If you are interested, get in touch and register your interest so we can notify you if the regulations change.
For a rough cost estimate for your plot, send us the area, crop and location via the contact page and we will get back to you with a concrete quote.