EPA Reverses Stance on Cuts to Ethanol Mandates
After intense backlash from corn-state senators, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt reversed his position on cutting renewable fuel mandates for next year. In a letter dated Oct. 19, Pruitt said the agency will keep 2018 renewable fuel volume mandates at or above proposed levels.
The reversal comes after strong criticism from Midwestern senators. President Trump also called Administrator Pruitt and told him to “back off” on any plan that would reduce federal mandates for corn-based ethanol and biodiesel made from soybeans. The letter also said the EPA would not alter the policy that strips renewable fuel standard credits from exported ethanol, and would explore allowing the year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol nationwide.
Aerial applicators treat approximately 7.8 million acres of corn and 4.4 million acres of soybean each year.
Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley threatened to withhold support for Trump’s nominee to lead EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, which oversees the Renewable Fuel Standard. After receiving the letter, Sen. Ernst said she is ready to vote in favor of the nomination.
Iowa is the nation's top corn producer and consistently ranks first or second in soybean production. Iowa also leads the nation in biofuel production with 43 ethanol refineries and 12 biodiesel plants.
Oil refiners, who have long complained about the cost of implementing the program, were disappointed in the administrator’s reversal. Pruitt has been considered an oil industry ally since he began fighting Obama-era carbon emissions restrictions while the attorney general of Oklahoma.
The EPA is due to release final biofuel volume mandates by Nov. 30.
GAO Report: Climate Change Could Cost U.S. Ag up to $9.2 Billion
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the economic impact of climate change, analyzing 30 existing studies and economic analyses from various sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, labor and crime. The report concluded climate change could cost U.S. agriculture up to $9.2 billion in crop yields between 2020 and 2039 if greenhouse gasses aren’t reduced.
While an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase the rate of photosynthesis and spur faster crop growth, decreased crop yields would result from poor soil health, water scarcity, a proliferation of pests, extreme weather and wildfires. Pests thrive in warmer conditions and can move into new areas where it was previously too cold.
The report recommended the White House "should use information on the potential economic effects of climate change to help identify significant climate risks facing the federal government and craft appropriate federal responses. Such responses could include establishing a strategy to identify, prioritize, and guide federal investments to enhance resilience against future disasters."
The report found that extreme weather and wildfires have cost the federal government $350 billion over the past 10 years. Additionally, crop and flood insurance have cost $90 billion.
A slew of recent hurricane relief bills assisting victims in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico are the latest example of the government spending billions on disaster relief while also trying to rein in spending. NAAA will also continue to advocate for aerial application research funding during this critical time when resources have the potential to be diverted for other priorities. NAAA will also keep members informed of any climate change polices that affect the industry.
Membership Matters! 2018 Renewals are Now Open
Your support of NAAA results in many significant benefits to the aerial application industry and you, such as advocacy and national representation, education and safety programs and the opportunity to network with fellow aerial applicators across the country. Renew online today or contact the NAAA office at (202) 546-5722!
Once you renew your membership, you can take advantage of NAAA’s new Recruit-Rebate-Rewards Program where you can receive a 10% rebate for recruiting new members to join the NAAA. Click here for more details so you can start referring and earning today!
NAAA membership is as important as ever as NAAA needs resources to continue pushing for stringent tower-marking requirements and to promote the safe integration of UAVs into the national airspace system (NAS) to ensure the safety of ag pilots (click here to view NAAA’s UAV safety campaign video). Similarly, NAAA has worked hard to make sure EPA and manufacturers register crop protection products with labels allowing aerial use.
NAAA continues to advocate daily on these and other important issues for the safety and continuity of the aerial application industry. An NAAA membership comes with numerous benefits whether you’re an operator, pilot or allied company. Take a look at this infographic to see why your membership matters:
Online Renewal Instructions
You can renew your membership at AgAviation.org by logging into your account in the upper right hand corner. Once you’ve logged in, click Membership Renewal on the left-hand toolbar (as seen in the graphic below).
Auto Renewal Information
NAAA offers auto renewal for membership and NAAREF donations. When you sign up for auto renewal, NAAA will automatically charge the credit card on file every Sept. 1. There are four ways to sign up for auto renewal:
- When you receive your renewal statement in September, mark the box in the payment area for auto renewal.
- Renew your membership online and you’ll be asked during the process if you’d like auto renewal.
- Call the NAAA office at (202) 546-5722 and request auto renewal.
- Return the membership form in the next Agricultural Aviation magazine and mark the box in the payment area for auto renewal.
NAAA Renews Call for You to Provide GPS Data to Protect Ag Aircraft from UAVs
For almost a year now, NAAA has been working with Mississippi State University’s (MSU’s) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory (RFRL) to collect GPS data from ag aircraft to research ways low-level aviators can be protected from UAVs. The university received some GPS data from NAAA members earlier this year, however they do not yet have enough data for a comprehensive analysis.
Your data, when combined with the data of other low-level aviators, will create a comprehensive computer model that will help advise on the development of regulations governing the use of UAVs. The data you provide will be stripped of any personally identifiable information before it is used for this project and will not be released outside of the RFRL research team without your express permission. You can read a letter from NAAA and MSU here detailing what your data will be used for and specific instructions on submitting GPS logs.
GPS logs can be submitted online here (username: raspet-naaa and password: DATA#submission), but online data submissions are limited to 1 GB. You can also email your files to agdata@raspet.msstate.edu, but email deliveries are limited to 15 MB. For large deliveries of data please email a thumb-drive or other external storage device to:
Attn: Madison Dixon
Raspet Flight Research Laboratory- Building 2
114 Airport Road
Starkville, MS 39759
Thank you to everyone who has already provided RFRL with your GPS logs. NAAA is looking forward to seeing how the university uses the GPS data to improve safety for manned and unmanned aviation alike.
Pedaling for PAASS at the Ag Aviation Expo
Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of PAASS by joining eight of our PAASS Presenters for Pedaling for PAASS, a fundraiser for the ag aviation industry’s premier educational safety program. Pedaling for PAASS utilizes pedaling carts, controlled by an independent, professional driver that will direct peddling participants throughout historic Savannah and perhaps a local imbibing establishment or two. The event will begin on Sunday, Dec. 3. The carts will be launched starting at 5 p.m., with 15-minute intervals between each cart and will last about 2 hours. All you need to bring is a to-go cup for onboard beverage consumption, comfortable shoes, your photo ID, and a method of payment for your beverages at the local imbibing establishments. Tours start on the south side of the river at 420 W. Bryan Street, Savannah Ga.
The PAASS Presenters below will be leading peddle carts and they are looking for riders. Send an email to secure your spot on their cart, but you had better hurry—spaces are filling up quickly! The minimum donation for riding on one of the carts is $100 per person. Beverages are not included with this donation. If you know who’s cart you want to be on, please let us know in your email. If you want to participate but don’t care which cart, we’ll pick a PAASS Presenter for you! All of our carts have already been sponsored by companies or individuals—now we need them full of riders to make sure we can raise the maximum amount for PAASS! Cart departure times, the PAASS Presenters, and cart sponsors are:
Departure time PAASS
Presenter Cart Sponsors
5:00 PM Eric Klindt Wilbur-Ellis
5:15 PM Rick Richter Andrew Moore
5:30 PM Darrin Pluhar Regal Aviation Insurance
5:45 PM Leif Isaacson DuPont
6:00 PM Rod
Thomas; full cart Louisiana
AAA
6:15 PM Gaylon Stamps Air Tractor
6:30 PM Craig Bair Aerinova Aerial
6:45 PM Matt Hovdenes Moore’s Aerial Applicators
Secure your spot today; you will receive a confirmation email with donation details and a waiver form; both must be taken care of in advance of the event. If you’re not interested in the event, but you’d like to donate to NAAREF, please click here.
For more information on the Pedaling for PAASS event and to secure your spot, send us an email. Please note that if you commit to a spot on a cart, you must donate to PAASS even if you don’t show up. If you want to learn more about what a peddle cart, visit savannahslowride.com. Come celebrate 20 years of the world’s premiere agricultural aviation safety program with this fun first-time event!
Ag Aviation Expo Pre-Registration Deadline Quickly Approaching
We look forward to seeing you at the 2017 Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah, Ga., Dec. 4–7 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center (a few events will take place at the Westin). Avoid long lines onsite and save money by pre-registering for the Ag Aviation Expo by Nov. 4. You can now register online for the Ag Aviation Expo or you can print and mail a registration form.
We are continually updating the schedule of events for this year’s convention and we are excited to announce a few of our exciting events scheduled for this December:
- Kickoff Breakfast speaker Shannon Huffman Polson, Former U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Pilot and Captain. She was the first woman to fly Apache combat helicopters in the U.S. Armed Forces, where she served on three continents and led two flight platoons and a line company. Kickoff Breakfast sponsored by BASF.
- General Session – NAAA’s own Shark Tank, modeled after the popular ABC TV show where technology innovators will present their aerial application inventions to “sharks” (in our case, experienced applicators) who will ask the innovators some tough questions related to suitability to the ag aviation industry. Further details will be available this fall. In addition, we’ll have an Insurance Mock Trial, presented by the NAAA Insurance Committee. Sponsored by Syngenta and AIG.
- NAAA Trade Show – featuring thirteen aircraft and an expected 150+ exhibitors.
- Aerial Application Research Technology Session, sponsored by Loveland Products, and more than a dozen educational sessions (additional details will be posted as they become available). Possible CEUs at sessions; CEU information will be available this Fall.
- Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet honoring individuals and companies in the aerial application industry who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection.
- Many networking opportunities, including the Welcome Reception, sponsored by Bayer CropScience, the Live Auction & Reception, sponsored by Syngenta, the Pratt & Whitney Canada Reception and the Farewell Reception, sponsored by Hardy Aviation Insurance.
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.
Rooms are available at the Westin Savannah Harbor (directly next to the convention center), Hyatt Regency Savannah and Savannah Marriott Riverfront hotels (across the river from the convention center and Westin—transportation provided).
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, 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.