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Part 107 for agriculture

Part 107 for agriculture drones: what the certificate covers, and where Part 137 starts.

NDVI mapping, scouting and livestock counts are ordinary Part 107 operations. Spraying, seeding or any dispensing from the aircraft is agricultural aircraft operation under Part 137 and sits on top of Part 107.

Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot
Renzo Madueño
Former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot · Founder, Rotate Pilot
Writes from real airline cockpit and checkride experience — not a content farm.
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Who this is for

Farmers, agronomists and ag service operators who want to fly drones for mapping or spraying legally.

1
Search
2
Diagnose
3
Drill
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Mock
5
Buy

55 lb

Part 107 weight limit; heavier sprayers need a 49 USC 44807 exemption

Part 137

required for dispensing (spray, seed, dust) from any aircraft

$175

PSI knowledge test fee, per attempt

Audience

Farm owners flying their own fields, agronomy consultants adding multispectral mapping, and operators planning a spray drone business.

What is at stake

Buying a spray drone before understanding Part 137 is the expensive mistake in this niche. The Part 107 test itself costs $175 per attempt at PSI, and 17% of 2025 attempts failed (FAA CY2025 report).

If you want more

Part 107 Pass - $69.00

Where students get stuck

Mapping is Part 107, spraying is Part 137 too

14 CFR 107.36 bans carrying hazardous materials and Part 137 governs dispensing anything for agricultural purposes. A spray operation needs an agricultural aircraft operator certificate (Part 137) in addition to the remote pilot certificate, and typically a 107.36 waiver or a 44807 exemption. Checked on eCFR and the FAA UAS pages, October 2026.

Rural does not mean uncontrolled

Class G is common over farmland, but Class E surface areas and the extensions around regional airports show up on sectionals, and Military Training Routes and restricted areas cross agricultural land. The test asks you to read those symbols.

Weather is the farmer's advantage

You already read wind, temperature and humidity for spraying. The test wants the aviation version: METAR and TAF codes, density altitude and how heat changes lift for a loaded aircraft.

Part 107 before planting season

A short plan you can follow from today to test day.

1

Weeks 1-2: regulations and the Part 137 line

Learn the Part 107 limits (400 ft AGL, visual line of sight, 55 lb, daylight and night rules) and where Part 137 takes over. Regulations are 48% of the questions.

2

Weeks 2-3: airspace and weather

Sectional charts over rural areas, Class E floors, MTRs and restricted areas, plus METAR/TAF decoding and density altitude for a heavy, hot takeoff.

3

Week 4: timed mocks, then PSI

Pass full 60-question mocks with margin, create your FTN on IACRA, and book the test at PSI ($175). Then start the Part 137 application if you plan to spray.

What to practice

Loading and performance

Center of gravity, payload effects and how density altitude cuts performance on a hot afternoon at a high-elevation field.

Rural chart reading

Class E floor symbols, Military Training Routes, restricted areas near test ranges, and the airport data block of the nearest regional field.

Operations and crew

Visual observers, preflight inspection, emergency procedures and the accident reporting rule (10 days, 14 CFR 107.9) for a working farm fleet.

Final readiness checklist

  • Clear on which of your planned operations are Part 107 only and which need Part 137.
  • Passed a full timed practice test with margin above 70%.
  • Can read the sectional over your fields, including any MTR or restricted area.
  • FTN created on IACRA and PSI appointment booked.
  • Spray drone purchase decision deferred until the Part 137 path is mapped.

Frequently asked questions

Can I spray crops with a drone under Part 107 alone?

No. Dispensing any substance for agricultural purposes is an agricultural aircraft operation under 14 CFR Part 137, which requires its own operator certificate on top of your remote pilot certificate. Drones over 55 lb also need an exemption under 49 USC 44807. Checked on eCFR and the FAA UAS pages, October 2026.

Is mapping or crop scouting allowed under Part 107?

Yes. Multispectral or NDVI mapping, scouting and livestock counts are standard Part 107 operations as long as you keep the drone under 55 lb, in visual line of sight, at or below 400 ft AGL (or within 400 ft of a structure) and in airspace you are authorized to use.

What does the Part 107 test cover for an ag pilot?

The same UAG test for everyone: 60 scored questions, 120 minutes, 70% to pass, weighted Regulations 48%, Airspace 20%, Weather 5%, Loading and Performance 2%, Operations 25% (PSI UAG bulletin). There are no agriculture-specific questions, but weather, loading and rural charts come up.

How much does it cost and what if I fail?

The PSI fee is about $175 per attempt (FAA FAQ, October 2026). If you fail, you wait 14 days and pay again (14 CFR 107.71). The certificate itself is issued free through IACRA.

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Before planting season

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Day 0

Know what to do next

A member sees the repair bank, weakest topic, and next exact drill instead of wandering through a generic course.

Week 1

Shrink weak topics

Missed-only mini-exams come before random volume, so progress becomes visible quickly.

Week 2

Book with confidence

Readiness is tied to coverage, repair debt, and proof scores before paying PSI.

After pass

Become an operator

Lifetime access keeps it useful after the test: LAANC, first-client assets and field workflows.