January 20, 2012
NAAA eNewsletter
NPDES Overview Available on NAAA Website
With the implementation of the
NPDES pesticide general permit on Oct. 31, 2011, NAAA has been working hard to provide members with as much information as possible to assist them in negotiating the many complexities of the permit. As a result, the Association has developed several documents to aid aerial applicators in complying with the permit.
NAAA continues to work with a coalition of agricultural organizations and other allies to seek a legislative exemption for NPDES Clean Water Act permits. The Association urges members in States with Democrat Senators to contact those Senators and request that they support H.R. 872 and contact Majority Leader Reid and urge him to bring the legislation up for a vote in the Senate.
Testing Concludes LightSquared Incompatible with GPS; Congress Concurs
In yet another blow to the multi-billion dollar plan of the wireless network company, government and Congress alike have affirmed that LightSquared’s proposed broadband service would cause “significant interference with GPS.” The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee (PNT) and Congress have intervened on the issue and remain unconvinced of the two systems ability to co-exist harmoniously without serious interruptions to GPS service.
The PNT is made up of nine federal agencies that coordinate GPS issues and based its findings on numerous tests performed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The group informed the Commerce Department additional testing was needed and that they saw no quick fix to the interference problem. In similar fashion, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012, signed into law on Dec. 31, 2011, contains provisions requiring LightSquared to negate any interference issues with GPS before the FCC can approve its operation. While the NDAA does not specifically prohibit LightSquared’s proposed network, it does contain specific guidelines that must be met and forbids the FCC from allowing its use unless it can unequivocally prove that it won’t interfere with the needs of the Department of Defense.
None too pleased with the harsh criticism, LightSquared has claimed the testing was “rigged” and is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to redo the tests. In addition, the company continues to threaten legal action as well.
NAAA will continue to monitor this issue and keep members apprised of the final outcome regarding LightSquared’s proposed network plan.
Research Shows Agriculture and Consumers Are Talking Past Each Other
Are consumers buying what production agriculture is selling? In the literal sense, the answer is yes, but according to research conducted by the United States Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), the general public is largely unreceptive to traditional ag industry messaging and skeptical of modern farming practices. Although it’s no secret that a consumer-agriculture disconnect exists, the USFRA’s findings make it clear the divide runs deep. The research findings were presented at the 2011 Charleston/Orwig Food System Thought-Leader Symposium and first reported by Agri Marketing magazine. As the chart below shows, what production agriculture is saying and what consumers are hearing are two different things.
CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF AG MESSAGES
|
Ag Industry Says… |
Consumer Hears… |
|
Our methods are proven and safe. |
Your methods tamper with nature. |
|
We keep food affordable… |
…but at what expense to quality? |
|
Most farms are family run… |
…but beholden to big processors. |
|
We care about our lands and animals. |
You will take shortcuts to be profitable. |
|
We need to produce more to feed the world. |
You want to produce more to sell to the world. |
|
We need a secure food supply. |
You want subsidies. |
|
We have the safest food supply in the world. |
Pesticides, antibiotics and hormones may not be safe in the long run. |
Source: Agri Marketing and Charleston/Orwig
Those consumer perceptions were gleaned from a polling exercise worthy of a political debate. Using the same research methodology, the reactions of food industry influencers ranging from chefs and restaurant owners to food bloggers and food writers were tracked as a farmer discussed current farming methods, phrases and ideas. Keith Yazmir of Maslansky Luntz & Partners presented the findings of the polling exercise at the Food System Thought-Leader Symposium.
One of the takeaways from the research is that a “larger movement is needed to rethink agriculture’s approach to connecting with consumers,” Agri Marketing reported. With respect to that, Yazmir offered a piece of advice: All messaging related to farming and food production should focus on educating and appealing to the mother—who is purchasing food to feed her family—and ensuring she is comfortable with how the food was produced. For more on “what consumers are hearing,” the full article can be found on pg. 56-57 in the
digital edition of Agri Marketing.
In related news, the USFRA conducted a telephone survey last summer to understand the attitudes and opinions of farmers/ranchers and consumers. In July-August 2011, the USFRA surveyed 2,417 consumers and 1,002 farmers/ranchers nationwide. This effort was separate from the focus group exercise. A
summary of the food-attitude surveys states, “Consumers are firmly divided on the direction of modern agriculture.” The top three things consumers want to know more about are: 1) how chemicals are used, 2) how pesticides are used, 3) food safety standards. When consumers were asked to pick issues they believe should be a priority for growers, “how pesticides are used” topped the list. For more on the consumer/farmer/rancher survey, click
here.
Environmental Respect Award Entries Due March 16
Competition for the 22nd annual Environmental Respect Awards (ERA)
is underway with a new, earlier deadline. Retailers, land management
professionals and past winners will have until March 16 to submit an
Environmental Respect Award Self-Audit.
Participation in the awards program has more than doubled in the
last two years. In response, organizers made this year’s entry deadline
more than a month earlier than past years and revamped their
online entry process to make applying online easier. This year, applicants will be able to make an “
Environmental Pledge,”
examine their operations by using the Self-Audit Booklet and
immediately show their commitment with a participation certificate.
The Environmental Respect Awards are sponsored by DuPont Crop
Protection and CropLife magazine and considered to be the premier awards
in ag retail stewardship. The awards serve to recognize and promote
environmental stewardship from farm retailers who are operating their
businesses in an environmentally sound manner, to the benefit of their
customers, employees and community.
Since 1990, more than 5,000 U.S. retailers have entered the
Environmental Respect Awards and shared their stewardship initiatives.
More than 300 businesses have earned state awards in that time,
including two-time winner and NAAA member Tim Tyree of Tyree Ag Inc.,
Kinsley, Kan. Tyree Ag received a Kansas state Environmental Respect
Award in 2009 and was one of only five U.S. farm supply retail
businesses to receive a regional Environmental Respect Award in 2011. A
video spotlighting Tyree’s stewardship practices is available on the Environmental Respect Awards’
website. NAAA Member Darrel Mertens of Aero Applicators Inc. in Sterling, Colo., is also a past winner.
“Our right to operate as an industry depends on our ability to work
safely and effectively,” ERA Director K. Elliott Nowels said. “There
are good things happening out there. The Environmental Respect Awards is
about honoring those in our industry who are doing it right—and sharing
that good news with the rest of the world.”
To enter, you must be a crop input supplier or distributor, or
involved in vegetation management in one of the specified regions where
the Environmental Respect Awards effort is being conducted. Your
business must be a customer of DuPont Crop Protection in that area.
Recognition is given to all who enter and there are several intermediary
prizes. The national award is given to the business judged to be best
out of regional winners. For more information about the Environmental
Respect Awards, please visit
www.environmentalrespect.com.
Convention Surveys
NAAA recently e-mailed information to 2011 Convention Exhibitors and Attendees asking you to complete the appropriate convention surveys. We would encourage you to participate in these short surveys – the information will be used by the Allied Industry and Convention Committees at their February meeting to formulate plans for the 2012 Convention and improve upon the 2011 Convention.
If you would like to participate but didn’t receive a survey via e-mail, please call Danna or Peggy at 202-546-5722. Thank you for your participation, and we look forward to another great Convention in Savannah, Ga. next December.
Online PAASS Evaluations
Remember to make your voice heard to the developers of future PAASS Programs. To evaluate the content of the 2011-2012 season, the PAASS Program evaluation sheets have been placed online in electronic format to ease the burden of tabulating this important information. NAAREF and the PAASS Program Development Committee place a high importance on the feedback from attendees.
After you attend PAASS, please take the time to fill out the survey. The Survey Monkey site address is listed at the top of the last page of the PAASS Handout which everyone is given at the presentation. An e-mail is sent to program attendees after their attendance sheet is processed with this link to the survey -
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/11-12evaluation. Attendees may either click on the link or copy and paste it into their web browser.
If you have not attended PAASS yet this year, please keep this address available to use after your attendance. Your input is valuable to the continued success of PAASS.
Access Popular FAA Lookups on the Fly with FAA Mobile
If you use a smartphone and actively surf the web on it, a new FAA website may be right up your alley. Earlier this month, the agency launched FAA Mobile, a website optimized for mobile devices that provides quick access to popular FAA.gov tasks. Its streamlined, almost bare-boned, interface makes it easy to look up N-numbers, Advisory Circulars, FSDOs and more on the fly.
FAA Mobile is not an app; it is available at www.faa.gov/mobile. Going forward, it will be fine-tuned based on user feedback. Users may offer suggestions by tapping the Feedback link at the bottom of any page. A full list of features and devices compatible with FAA Mobile is available on the FAA’s website.
New Year for NAAA Memberships
The NAAA membership year runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each year. Those of you who have not yet renewed are in a “grace” period and NAAA will be sending out one final dues notice for 2012 very soon.
Your password to the NAAA website will only be active through Feb. 15, so don’t wait—renew your membership today!
Remember, there are four easy ways to renew your membership: online at
www.agaviation.org/content/membership; by mail (1005 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003), by fax (202-546-5726) or by phone (202-546-5722).
Thank you to all of you who have renewed your NAAA membership and continue to support your National Agricultural Aviation Association!
Southern Hospitality: Housing Bureau Open for Business for NAAA’s 2012 Convention
NAAA is heading back to Savannah, Ga., for its 46th Annual Convention & Exposition! Although the 2012 Convention is several months away, it’s never too early to book your stay in Savannah. Room blocks are now open at NAAA’s three main hotels: the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, located on the convention center side of the Savannah River, and the Hyatt Regency Savannah and Marriott Savannah Riverfront, located city side where Savannah’s shops, restaurants and attractions are. If you have a hotel preference, we strongly suggest reserving your room(s) early. NAAA’s host hotels sold out quickly in 2010.
Savannah’s convention and visitors bureau has established a dedicated website for attendees to book their stay at any of NAAA’s hotels. Through this website you can book, modify or cancel your hotel reservations at any time and receive updated information about NAAA’s 2012 Convention. You can get started by logging onto NAAA’s official hotel registration website. Standard rooms are $114/night + tax at all three hotels.
Booking through NAAA’s secure website is highly recommended. Questions about hotel reservations may be directed to the Savannah Housing Bureau at 912-644-6465. Attendees cannot call the hotels directly to receive the group rate or reserve a room in NAAA’s housing block. More information is available at AgAviation.org.