NAAA and NAAREF held their fall
Board meetings in Denver last week, Oct. 9–12. The meetings were very productive in training
PAASS presenters on the latest ag aviation professional curriculum, and in
developing substantive policies to progress NAAA, NAAREF and the ag aviation
industry forward.
Train the Trainer
The first meetings included
training the PAASS presenters on the new, original curriculum that NAAREF
develops each year on operational security, aviation safety and environmental
professionalism. The 2019–2020 program,
which began this week at Colorado’s (CoAAA) state convention, will analyze a
recent, actual break-in at the ag aviation operation of 2018 NAAA President
Gary Jerger in Minnesota and precautions that were taken after the burglary to
improve its security. The aviation
safety segment will focus on actual controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
accidents and lessons learned from the pilots involved. The environmental professional curriculum’s
focus is on how to prepare for an ag aircraft application equipment testing
clinic, or on how to test one’s own equipment.
AgAv PAC Breakfast
NAAA national and Colorado members
were treated to a great address on Oct.11 at an AgAv PAC fundraising breakfast featuring U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) who
briefed the audience on the present partisan environment in our nation’s
capital between legislators. He also emphasized
the importance of why it is important for those involved in agriculture to
fight for what they believe in and to support those that represent their rural,
farming interests.
General Session: State of the Association/Industry
Report
The General Session of the Board
meeting began with President Perry Hofer (South Dakota) welcoming the Board and
Committee members. He then introduced Andrew
Moore, NAAA executive director, who presented an overview of key policies and
trends occurring in the ag industry as well as numerous efforts NAAA and NAAREF
have been undertaking. He started by
touching on how the USDA is predicting net farm income to be $88 billion, 5%
above last year, but 22% of that dollar figure is from direct subsides
including trade relief and disaster payments. The trade troubles with China markedly curbing U.S. ag purchases have
hurt the U.S. ag economy as well as excessive moisture and a very late spring
in 2019. This resulted in 19.2 million
acres going unplanted this year. Moore
then discussed NAAA’s ag aviation economic survey conducted this fall that included
some figures to be optimistic about, such as an increase in the number of hours
flown by operators in 2019 by 18.3% (329 hours per aircraft in 2019 versus
278.2 hours in 2018, and 2.23 aircraft per operation in 2019 versus 2.2
aircraft in 2018). A higher percentage
of operators are optimistic about the upcoming 2020 season (53%), than are skeptical. Also 69.3% of operators treated greater,
somewhat greater or the same number of acres in 2019 versus 2018 (60%).
Moore went on to state that due to
partisan bickering in Washington, D.C., very little substantive policy has been
enacted by the Congress and this will likely continue until Jan. 20, 2021, the
next inauguration. No infrastructure
bill is expected to be enacted this Congress, which was looked upon as possibly
being a vehicle to attach tower marking subsidy funds and expanding marking to
communication towers. Moore did state how NAAA has been diligently working on
(re)registering crop protection products for aerial use by urging the placement
of aerial use language on 63 active ingredient comment periods to EPA so far
this year. He also mentioned NAAA’s
involvement in successfully supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts to
scale back the Obama administration’s proposal to markedly expand the
definition of a Water of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act to actually include
dry riverbeds. Moore forecast the environment in Washington, D.C., post Inauguration
Day 2021. He stated that the House of
Representatives is very likely to continue with a Democratic majority and the
Senate is in play to possibly shift to a Democratic majority. Should such a scenario occur and there is a
change in the presidency, the focus will very likely be on increasing taxes and
reducing carbon in the environment through significantly increasing
environmental regulations and taxes on carbon use. The chance of gridlock will likely remain
between the executive and legislative branch in the event of a second term for
President Trump; however, it is likely a reasonable regulatory environment would remain.
Moore
also discussed federal drone policy. NAAA has been advocating in both the trade press and to the FAA and EPA
that due to drones’ multi-rotor and prop configurations and lighter weight,
they should be comprehensively tested for application efficacy and drift
potential like manned ag aircraft were by the Spray Drift Task Force in the
1990s. Then proper pesticide use
directions could be developed for them and possible approval granted for their
broad use. He also mentioned that the
FAA is looking at granting a waiver from providing right-of-way to manned aircraft
to drones checking utility wires. NAAA
has adamantly protested this proposed exemption due to ag aircraft’s operations
around these utilities.
Agricultural
media was then discussed including a focus in the larger media about chlorpyrifos
and glyphosate lawsuits. Not to be
deterred on promoting the judicious and professional use of crop protection
products, NAAA continued its placement of ads promoting the benefits of aerial
application in AgWeb’s eNewsletter and CropLife magazine, with national circulations
of 200,000 and 47,000, respectively, of farmers, retailers and crop
consultants. The ads include directions
to NAAA’s “Find an Aerial Applicator” search tool for those interested in
contacting an NAAA member near them to provide effective aerial application
work. NAAA has also proactively sent
several press releases to the national media and the ag, UAV and aviation
trade press throughout the country. The
releases include cautioning drone operators about low-altitude manned ag
aircraft. Data from our industry survey
identifying a large increase in aerial application use (28% of all applications
to commercial U.S. cropland) was also touted. These releases have been picked up in sUAS News, UAS magazine, Verticalmagazine, Farm Journal, CropLife magazine, AgPro magazine and RFD TV—which have
combined circulations of well over 50 million. Moore also touched on accidents this year of which there have been a
total of 52 with six fatalities, unfortunately.
A
briefing on the excellent lineup of NAAA’s Ag Aviation Expo scheduled for
Nov. 18–21 in Orlando at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort was also
discussed. Aerobatic pilot and
Smithsonian Living Legend of Flight recipient Sean Tucker, former aerial applicator,
will be the Kickoff Breakfast speaker. The General Session and education sessions will focus on topics from
aerial imaging to the international ag and agri-chemical economy to FAA and UAV
regs. Moore stated there are already 142
exhibitors, five aircraft (three fixed-wing; two rotorcraft) slated for the exposition
floor. The auction includes Pratt &
Whitney Canada’s donation of a PT6A-34AG turbine engine as well as a four-passenger golf cart from Air Tractor, a $15,000 gift certificate from Covington
and a turbine transition course from Turbine Training Center. Hotel registrations for the convention are at
a record high.
Moore
touched on membership and the great tangibles that were provided to NAAA
members this year from the 2019 Aerial Application Operator and Pilot Survey
conducted every five-plus years to complimentary, limited legal consulting on
federal transportation law that is now offered to NAAA members. Moore also
mentioned that NAAA memberships are down in 2019 but new membership categories in
a broadened operator and pilot category to include firefighting, public
health and forestry applications along with an aerial-imaging category have
been approved by the membership and may add to membership numbers. Lower membership numbers along with
consolidation in the agri-chemical industry and lower sponsorships resulted in
a slight $4,357 deficit for NAAA and a $66,224 deficit for NAAREF, yet reserves
and total assets are very strong for both organizations.
Moore
did discuss challenges forthcoming to the industry such as efforts in
California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado to cancel the use of pesticides
such as chlorpyrifos and glyphosate without the consideration of sound science. Also mentioned were efforts in those states
to enact notification periods and restrictions to aerial application, without
considering commonplace technologies and techniques used to ensure its
safety. He also mentioned the dietary
trend for plant-based foods such as Burger King’s Impossible Whopper and that
40% of Millennials choose this lifestyle. These trends could result in fewer acres planted. He closed, however, with real opportunities
for the aerial application industry to diversify into precision/variable-rate
applications, pointing to how many international crop protection product
companies are setting up consulting divisions in this field, such as Bayer’s
Climate Corp, Corteva’s Encirca and Syngenta’s Strider. He also pointed to 12% of aerial applicators already
conducting aerial-imaging today and 4% using drones to help develop
the images necessary to conduct precision/variable rate applications.
Committee and
Board Meetings
The following are
the key takeaways from the NAAA and NAAREF Board and Committee meetings held
Oct. 10–12 in Denver:
Budget &
Finance: The Board approved motions from the Budget & Finance Committee
to approve NAAA’s annual financial audit and it also set the dues rate for the
aerial-imaging membership category at $200.
Communication
and Public Relations: Much of the
discussion at the meeting was about the upcoming 100th anniversary
of agricultural aviation celebration that is forthcoming in 2021 and collecting
information for the event. Work is
already underway on a book covering the centennial. Chairman Sam Rogge of Colorado asked board
members to go back to their states and regions and collect important
information about the industry’s history and photographs and video for a
documentary and exhibit information that will be developed for aviation and
agricultural themed museums. Information
should be sent to Colleen Isaacson on NAAA’s staff: cisaacson@agaviation.org.
Convention
Committee: The focus was preparing for the upcoming Expo in Orlando next
month at Rosen Shingle Creek, where all events will take place. There is a lot
excitement surrounding numerous events such as the NAAREF fundraiser Putting for PAASS where foursomes will
play a best ball on a putting course Sunday, Nov. 17, to win gift
certificates to purchase NAAA merchandise at the Support Booth. The Relationship
Drift educational session on Thursday, Nov. 21, will include
operators and pilots and their spouses,significant others and office staff to
analyze ways in which their relationship behavior can lead to a safer, more
enjoyable ag aviation work environment. Early registration saves you $50 per person to attend and ends Oct. 18. Potential future convention sites were
discussed including Denver, Reno, Fort Worth and Las Vegas. Future breakfast speakers were also discussed
including Marcus Luttrell, Navy SEAL and author of Lone Survivor, the story of his teams’ 2005 battle with Taliban
soldiers in Afghanistan. Luttrell’s
speaking costs are $60,000 so significant sponsorships would need to be
collected to book his engagement.
Governing
Documents: A code of conduct ensuring members abide by professional
behavior was developed and analyzed by the committee. A legal review of the document will occur
before finalizing. The committee also approved
a suggestion from the Membership Committee, which was subsequently approved by the board, to change the bylaws to no longer require that members belong to a state/regional ag
aviation association in order to be an NAAA member. This change will be brought forward to the
membership later for a vote.
Government
Relations: NAAA’s efforts reregistering products for aerial use via the EPA
reregistration process were praised, but discussions and action will take place
to further aerial labeling initiatives by expanding work with agri-chemical
manufacturers as well.
Long Range
Planning: Due to public emphasis on environmental sustainability and also
potentially significant additional costs for misapplications as high-value
crops such as hemp become more widely present, the committee will be working to
have GPS manufacturers, meteorological manufacturers and nozzle and flow
control manufacturers to develop a system to synchronize these technologies to
see if they can be more affordable, commonplace and easier to use. The committee also will be undertaking a rewrite
of NAAA’s Strategic Plan.
Membership:
An honorary membership was approved by the board for longtime WNAAA member and
ag aviation insurance broker Dorothy Kimmel from Mississippi, mother of Frank
and Mark Kimmel.
Museum:
Chairman Mark Kimmel of Mississippi stated that phase one of modernizing the National
Agricultural Aviation Museum in Jackson, Miss., is very nearly completed and
that fundraising for the $150,000 needed for phase two is underway. About $100,000 more is needed. The new technology, which includes video
touchscreens to learn the history and past players of the industry, is very
slick, according to Kimmel.
Nominating:
2018 NAAA President Gary Jerger announced that the 2020 slate of officer
nominees that will be voted on for approval at the Ag Aviation Expo NAAA Board
meeting are Darrin Pluhar (Montana) for president, Mark Kimmel (Mississippi) for vice
president, Mike Rivenbark (North Carolina) for treasurer, and JT Helms (Allied–Insurance)
for secretary.
Safety and
Federal Aviation Regulations: The Committee continues to work on compliance
with the NTSB ag aviation report from 2014 by working on a plan to augment
knowledge and skills testing in the industry.
It is also looking at sending a reconsideration letter to the NTSB on an
NTSB accident report pertaining to questionable interpretation of CAM 8 based
on a Weatherly accident.
Support:
Sue Stewart (Texas), Support Chair, stated that there is leftover merchandise
from the 2018 Convention Support Booth that may be purchased atshop.agaviation.org. People may also
purchase items at shop.agaviation.org for delivery at this year’s Ag Aviation
Expo. The Support Committee has
incredible items for its raffle such as
an AR-10 and an iPad Pro. Stewart
announced that the Athena Program educational lineup that will be presented at
13 state and regional conventions will include topics ranging
from FAA approved medications to bookkeeping to succession planning. She also announced that the topic for the 2020
Support Scholarship Contest is “Why is Ag Aviation Important?”
NAAREF:
NAAREF President Dominique Youakim announced three new PAASS Presenters this
year. They are Sam Styron (Missouri),
Mike Rivenbark (North Carolina) and Perry Hofer (South Dakota). He also mentioned the importance of state ag
aviation association leaders educating their state lead agencies about the importance
of approving continuing education units for PAASS attendance toward commercial
pesticide license renewals. There have
been a few states this year that have altered the CEUs offered for PAASS
attendance. NAAREF’s Operation S.A.F.E.
Committee announced the development of an app that can be used to analyze water-sensitive cards used in application equipment testing fly-ins in lieu of using
a fluorometer.
State Reports:
President Hofer called on members to deliver any important news from the states
and Erin Morse (Washington) mentioned efforts to enact laws in her state
testing for pesticides in water and banning glyphosate as well as banning
aerial use of pesticides in forests. Dale Patterson (South Dakota) mentioned
that his state was using PAASS to deliver the continuing education units for
its new aerial category. Brenda Watts
(Arkansas) informed the Board that 2013 NAAA President Dana Ness (Montana), who
was incapacitated by a stroke, offered his greetings to the Board and Committee
attendees. Gaylon Stamps (Texas) said
that this was his final meeting. He will be retiring from his Awards Committee
chairmanship. Stamps was given a
standing ovation by the Board.
The next NAAA
Board of Directors meeting will be at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando
on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 3:30 p.m. ET.