Cost Comparison Worksheet · DJI Agras T40 Aerial Application
Hire the drone,
or do it yourself?
Enter your field and equipment details. Every cost is broken out on a per-acre basis and as a field total, so you can see exactly where your money goes when you run your own rig versus hiring the drone.
② Drone Service · DJI T40
③ Ground Sprayer (DIY)
◈ Your Field Completion Estimate
In-seat spraying (acres ÷ coverage)
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Mix / load / wash (per pass)
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Time per pass
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Total time you spend in the field
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Compare to drone: —
Research Basis · Wheel Track Yield Loss
Iowa State and Purdue trials show ground sprayers cause measurable yield loss from wheel tracks: roughly 2.5% with 60-ft booms, 1.9% with 90-ft, and 1.3% with 120-ft. The "bell effect" — damage to rows adjacent to tracks from soil compaction — can push total loss meaningfully higher, especially in wet conditions or narrow-row beans. Formula used: (tire footprint ÷ boom width) × 1.5 bell-effect multiplier.
End of worksheet · Adjust inputs as needed