July 13, 2017
NAAA eNewsletter

House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal 2018 Bill with Aerial Research Support Language but Fewer Dollars for USDA

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee passed a fiscal year 2018 funding bill for the USDA with $1 billion fewer dollars compared to the 2017 fiscal year. The federal budget calendar runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. 

 

The spending bill cut the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), where the aerial application research unit is housed, by 3 percent compared to last year. However, NAAA again successfully pushed for language in the committee report to the bill indicating Congress’s continued support of the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. 

 

The report reads in part, “The Committee recognizes the importance of the ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. The program conducts innovative research making aerial applications more efficient, effective, and precise. Research for aerial application serves the public good as a vital tool for the future, as agriculture strives to meet the food, fiber, and bio-energy demands of a growing population.”

 

The mention of aerial application within the report supporting the legislation is no small feat, as it is one of only a few ag programs specifically mentioned. NAAA will continue to work for adequate USDA-ARS funding for the continued design of aerial application technologies, tools and techniques that mitigate drift, result in fuel savings and make aerial applications more efficacious. Favorable committee report language sends a strong message to the USDA to continue to sustain appropriate funding for aerial application research despite the budget cuts. Since 2002 NAAA has been successful in lobbying the government for an additional $8,912,500 in federal funding for aerial application technology research.

 

The spending bill still needs to be passed by the entire House and Senate, then signed by President Trump. The President’s original budget called for a 21 percent, or $360 million, cut to the Agricultural Research Service within the USDA. This would mean closing the doors at 17 research centers. NAAA will keep the membership informed of federal agricultural spending, particularly as it pertains to research for aerial application technology conducted at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

NAAA Has Large Presence at Congressman Sam Graves' Missouri Air Show; Shares Stage with General Aviation Leaders

NAAA represented ag aviation at U.S. Congressman Sam Graves’ (R-MO) Wingnuts Air Show before more than 2,000 attendees in Tarkio, Mo., last week. Several NAAA members participated in the show, whether it was displaying ag aircraft or representing agricultural aviation's interests to audience members as part of a General Aviation (GA) Town Hall.
 
The show began with a night airshow display on July 7 with a tremendous flight demonstration by the AeroShell Beechcraft T-6 quartet performing their darkened aerial ballet with illuminated aircraft. The team includes none other than Steve Gustafson, an aerial applicator from the Southeast. 
 
On the morning of July 8, Congressman Graves held a General Aviation Town Hall to discuss national issues affecting the industry.  Andrew Moore, NAAA’s executive director, took part in the discussion which also included representatives from Helicopter Association International, EAA, AOPA, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Business Aviation Association and other GA interests. The major concerns expressed by the audience and a number of GA interests were with the recently introduced bill privatizing air traffic control (ATC).  Rep. Graves explained that he worked hard to successfully exempt general aviation from user fees in the proposed bill and to ensure that they were adequately represented in a board overseeing the privatization. Moore complemented Rep. Graves for his assistance in marking low-level towers that endanger aerial applicators and for well-representing American agriculture and agricultural aviation in the U.S. Congress. 

NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore (far left) represents the ag aviation industry  before a public audience at the Tarkio Air Show; Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) speaks to the audience (standing with mic on right).
A number of NAAA members displayed and or flew their aircraft to the show, including Rick and Mary Boardman of Aurora, Neb. The Boardmans went old school and flew in and displayed their vintage Stearman ag aircraft. 
Mary and Rick Boardman (back) fly their Stearman into Tarkio, Mo. 
NAAA member Adam Myerkorth of Myerkorth Aviation in Missouri also showcased his Air Tractors at the airshow. Dallas Grimm of Redline Aviation in Nebraska was also at the show.
Myerkorth Aviation lands in Tarkio, Mo., in good company with the Team AeroShell T-6’s and Mustang in sight.
One of the highlights of the show was the Beechcraft T-6 quartet display which concluded the day ... well, not quite—the final act of the day was the B-2 Stealth bomber, stationed in nearby Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, flying by to conclude the show. 

 

AeroShell's T-6 team including ag pilot Steve Gustafson dances in the sky with their well-choreographed aerial display.

 

The show concluded with the B-2 Bomber fly by with three-fourths of Team AeroShell’s crew (Steve Gustafson missing).

Memorial Information for Fatally Injured N.D. Ag Pilot

On the morning of June 29, John Goerger was fatally injured in an agricultural aviation accident. Goerger was a pilot for Wilbur-Ellis Company and operated out of its Lisbon, N.D., branch. The accident occurred west of Gwinner, N.D. Goerger was flying an Air Tractor 602 that crashed in route from the Lisbon airport to a field he was going to spray. The NTSB is investigating the accident. 
 
Goerger is survived by his wife, Cathryn, and three children ages 14, 4 and 3. Any cards, memorials or donations may be sent to the Goerger family at the address below.
 
Wilbur-Ellis Company
Attn: Goerger Family
P.O. Box 65
Wahpeton, ND 58074
 
Please keep John’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they attempt to cope with this tragedy. 

Memorial Established for Deceased Georgia Ag Pilot

A fourth fatal Part 137 accident for 2017 occurred near Cash, Ark., on Saturday, July 8. In that accident, 27-year-old Ronald J. “Tripp” Everidge III of Pinehurst, Ga., was flying an Air Tractor 602 that reportedly impacted the ground for unknown reasons while conducting an application operation. He was a pilot for the family’s application business, Daddy Rabbit Aviation, operated by his father Ron Everidge. Everidge is survived by his wife, Whitney, and a one-year-old son, Axel, of Pinehurst along with other family members.
 
NAAA has been informed that a memorial fund has been established by the Georgia Agricultural Aviation Association (GAAA) for Tripp Everidge’s wife and son. Donations can be sent to Georgia Agricultural Aviation Association, 223 Airport Road, Americus, GA 31709.
 
Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow.

Dicamba Drift Update: Missouri Follows Arkansas' Lead

The Executive Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council has approved the Arkansas State Plant Board’s 120-day ban on the in-crop sales and use of dicamba, as reported in the June 29 eNewsletter. The ban began at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 and lasts for 120 days. Applicators caught using dicamba after the ban face a $1,000 fine. After Aug. 1, the new fine kicks in, and the penalty for illegal applications of dicamba increases to $25,000.
 
With its own dicamba drift complaints quickly accumulating, the Missouri Director of Agriculture followed suit and announced a ban on the sale and use of dicamba in Missouri. The ban was put into place July 7, and was effective immediately. The Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order was for all dicamba containing products labeled for agricultural use. The Missouri ban is temporary.  For the new formulations of dicamba labeled for in-crop use, the ban will be lifted once a special local needs label has been developed and approved in Missouri. For all other formulations of dicamba, the Missouri ban remains effective until Dec. 1, 2017.
 
The current count for dicamba misuse complaints are 633 in Arkansas and 123 in Missouri. There have also been misuse complaints in Mississippi and Tennessee. Other states where dicamba tolerant crops were planted in 2017 are closely monitoring the situation.

NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Booth Sales Opened this Week with Sucess

Booth sales opened Tuesday, July 11, for the 2017 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah, Ga., with a large number of companies purchasing booth space (and pre-purchasing large booth space). One hundred thirteen companies purchased booth space, compared to 117 companies in 2016 and 103 companies in 2015 that purchased space on the first day. As of today, exhibitors have purchased 72 percent of the booth space. 

 
View the floor plan to review the companies that will be visiting with attendees on the NAAA Trade Show floor. Potential exhibitors—there is still plenty of space for you! Visit our exhibitor page for more details.
 
Attendees registration is now open! Register today for the Ag Aviation Expo. 

Book Your Hotel Room 

2017 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo housing is coordinated through the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Housing office. Please do not call the hotels directly; use the link and/or phone number below to book your room.
 
Book your room today by clicking here or calling the housing bureau at (912) 644-6465. Please note that reservations are taken Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. If you cannot call during those hours, please book your room here.
 
PLEASE NOTE THE CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THE WESTIN FOR 2017. For each reservation canceled after Nov. 1, 2017, a non-refundable one night room and tax will be charged to the credit card on file. Guests who check out early (prior to the reserved check-out date) will be assessed one full night's room charge, plus applicable taxes. This was put in place in 2015 due to many people cancelling rooms at the Westin a few days before the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo, leaving dozens of rooms unfilled at that hotel. 

Complimentary Transportation & River Taxis

Complimentary river taxis and bus transportation will be provided between the hotels, convention center and the downtown Savannah entertainment district for all exhibitors and attendees.