This week, members of the EPA
got a chance to explore Idaho agriculture in an event planned by the National
Potato Council in conjunction with the Idaho Potato Commission. The field day
was created to educate EPA staff on the judicious use of
crop protection products that are used by farmers and farm service providers. Several EPA members were in
attendance from various departments within the organization including
entomologists, environmental risk employees and licensing and registration
individuals.
The first event
of the week was held on the Hoff Family Farm and airstrip. The Hoff’s come from
a long line of aviation enthusiasts and are as well known for their collection
of aircraft as they are for farming. Co-owner, James Hoff, grows alfalfa,
potatoes and grain and got the opportunity to discuss what types of crop
protection products he uses on his farm and at what times of the year they are
applied.
Leif Isaacson, owner of
Desert Air Ag, Inc. in Eastern Idaho and NAAA 2014 president participated in
the event by bringing an Air Tractor 502 to the airstrip to show attendees the
basics of the aircraft. He explained how GPS worked in an ag aircraft to
prevent overspray, how the nozzles were setup to help alleviate drift and
reviewed the safety features on the aircraft like the emergency environmental
valve, air bags and wire cutters. Afterwards, he performed an aerial demonstration
to show a full boom spray pass, a half-boom spray pass and how to use the
smoker and half-boom shut-off to avoid having to leave a buffer zone near a susceptible
crop.
“The aerial display was a
great way for us to show them the workings of a modern agricultural aircraft
and to discuss the issues we encounter with regulations, safety and application
techniques,” said Leif Isaacson.
The meeting was informal and
offered a relaxed setting for the visitors to gain a better understanding of what
issues farmers and aerial applicators have to contend with. James Hoff
explained, “Everyone was all ears and receptive to the dialogue. It was a great
way for them to understand the farmer’s perspective, but also a great chance
for us to hear things from the regulation side.”
