NAAA Joins Letter to USDA Secretary Requesting Responsible Implementation of Disaster Relief Aid by Delaying Decision on Preventative Planting Payments

NAAA has joined a letter, along with several other agricultural trade associations, seeking to ensure disaster relief legislation is implemented in a manner that does not harm farm service providers such as agricultural retailers, commercial applicators  and others who serve farmers across the county.

 

The letter recognizes the importance of passing substantive disaster relief legislation for farmers devastated by natural disasters but raised concern about the impact USDA preventative planting payments may have on the agribusiness community if offered too soon.

 

The letter reads in part, “… should farmers choose not to plant in 2019 and instead take preventative planting compensation, the retailer who positioned to provide seed, seed treatment, fertilizer and crop protection for that crop will be left holding product which will either drop in value, or worse, as in the case of treated seed, be of no value at all.”

 

As a solution to this dilemma, the letter asks Secretary Perdue to delay the preventative planting date in the affective states for the 2019 growing season. This would allow the agribusiness community to still have the opportunity to support the needs of farmers while ensuring farms in disaster areas remain financially solvent.

 

In addition to NAAA, other signatories include the Agricultural Retailers Association, the Southern Crop Protection Association and several state agribusiness associations.

 

The full letter can be read here.

 

The Senate approved a $19.1 billion disaster relief plan last month, with the House approving the same earlier this week. The legislation is expected to be signed by President Trump shortly, and USDA Secretary Perdue’s decision on providing preventative planting relief to farmers is expected soon. 

EPA Officially Allows Year-Round Sales of 15 Percent Ethanol Gasoline

The EPA announced last week that it will allow year-round sales of gasoline mixed with 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, just in time for the summer driving season. Traditionally, gasoline is blended with only 10 percent ethanol except during winter months when it gets increased to 15 percent. The higher ethanol blend was only allowed during the winter months due to concerns over smog at high temperatures, a concern biofuel advocates say is unfounded.

 

Removing the ban on sales of E15 during the summer months marks a victory for corn farmers and ethanol producers who have been trying to get the change for many months.

 

The National Corn Growers Association says ethanol accounts for about 30 percent of U.S. corn demand. A year-round E15 blend is sure to boost corn prices in the long term.

 

According to the latest NAAA industry survey, aerial applicators treat approximately 9.4 million acres of corn and 5.7 million acres of soybean each year. This is a healthy increase from the 2012 industry survey, which showed aerial applicators treated 7.8 million acres of corn and 4.4 million acres of soybeans. Additional crops used in advanced biofuels include sugarcane and canola.

 

The rule is expected to be met with legal challenges from the fossil-fuel industry, which claims allowing E15 sales during the summer months is against the Clean Air Act.

 

The EPA said the change is not only legal but required as Congress mandates 15 billion gallons of ethanol be absorbed into the gasoline market each year. Due to waning gasoline demand, the Congressional mandate would not be met at reduced E10 levels.

 

The EPA also released data showing how E10 and E15 perform at similar levels in cars made after 2001, allowing the agency to legally treat the two fuels the same.

 

The Renewable Fuels Association, a biofuels trade association, said it “believes the legal approach outlined in the final rule is entirely sound, logical, and highly defensible, and we agree that this approach is consistent with Congressional intent.”

NAAA Exec. Director Discusses 2019 Industry Survey on RFD-TV

 

The agricultural media’s interest in the 2019 NAAA Aerial Application Industry Survey remains high. That’s good news for aerial applicators, as the message continues to spread to farmers, ag retailers and crop consultants that aerial application is as vital to modern agriculture as ever. Last week NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore discussed the 2019 survey’s findings and the aerial application industry’s expanding footprint on RFD-TV.

 

Moore joined RFD-TV’s “Market Day Report” (“MDR”) by phone from NAAA’s headquarters in Virginia May 29. The aerial application industry treats an estimated 127 million acres of cropland each year, host Janet Adkison announced before welcoming him to the program.

 

“We’re definitely seeing a growth in the importance that farmers place in aerial application,” Moore said. He detailed some of the key takeaways from the 2019 industry survey then and addressed the vital role aerial applicators play in agriculture.

 

As he spoke about the growth in operations and pilots since NAAA’s last largescale industry survey in 2012, a graphic overlay declared: SURVEY SHOWS U.S. AGRICULTURAL AVIATION INDUSTRY IS STRONG, DURABLE AND GROWING.

 

“MDR” highlighted several points from NAAA’s press release about its 2019 survey throughout the 4-minute, 30-second segment. Watch the full interview below.

 

 

Media coverage of the 2019 industry survey beyond what was reported in the May 23 NAAA eNewsletter includes a mention in an Agribusiness Update news segment on the Agribusiness Radio News Network and pickup of NAAA’s press release on AgAir Update’s website and AgriMarketing.com.

 

RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network focused on agribusiness. It reaches more than 50 million homes on Dish Network, DirecTV, Comcast and many other rural cable systems.

Summer Sale: Get Free Shipping on NAAA’s Online Store with Promo Code FREESHIP

Stay cool this summer with some NAAA gear. We’re sliding into summer with a bang and offering members FREE SHIPPING on every item online. Use promo code FREESHIP at checkout for summer savings. Sizes and quantities are limited so hurry and take advantage of this offer.  Show your pride and support NAAA by going online today at Shop.AgAviation.org and purchase your NAAA merchandise.

 

 

Ag Aviation Expo Sponsorships Available

Join us for the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando, Nov. 18-21. Take advantage of getting your company name in front of the expected 1,500+ operators, ag pilots and other attendees directly related to the agricultural aviation industry through an Ag Aviation Expo sponsorship.

Five reasons why you should be a sponsor at the 2019 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo:

• A targeted audience will see your company’s name and/or logo.
• Sponsorship enhances your company’s credibility and rapport. 
• You will gain brand awareness and recognition.
• You will generate new sales and/or leads and potential business partnerships. 
• You can drive attendees to your booth and message through your sponsorship.
  

According to a post-convention survey, 75 percent of aerial applicators stated that they would be “very likely” to use the products and services of a company that sponsors an event at the Ag Aviation Expo. View sponsorship opportunities here.

By becoming a sponsor, attendees will:

• Remember your company, services and products.
• See you as a supporter of the ag aviation industry.
• Recognize your brand.
• See you as a partner and industry visionary.
• Hold you above others in purchasing decisions.

Last Chance to Enter Environmental Respect Awards Contest! Deadline this Friday!

 

Now in its 29th year, the Environmental Respect Awardsis the agricultural industry’s premier stewardship program honoring outstanding work in preserving the environment through safe, responsible business practices. Interested aerial applicators have until June 7 to make a compelling case for their operation’s environmental stewardship program. The Environmental Respect Awards program is open to retail farm supply businesses that store, handle, sell, and/or apply crop nutrient and crop protection products.

 

New in 2019, the Environmental Respect Awards have broadened the awards to include not only crop protection and seed retailers/agents/agencies, but also service providers, integrated producers and public agencies.

 

Over the years, a number of NAAA members have been recognized for the environmental respect on display at their operations. In 2016, for example, Glenn and Scott Heinen of Heinen Brothers Agra Services in Seneca, Kan., won the Environmental Respect Award for the state of Kansas.  Tim Tyree of Tyree Ag Inc. in Kinsley, Kan. Tyree received a Kansas state Environmental Respect Award in 2009 and was named a 2011 Environmental Respect Award regional winner, Darrel Mertens, 2018 NAAA vice president of Aero Applications in Sterling, Colo., has been a national finalist.

 

To compete for an Environmental Respect Award, you must submit a self-audit entry at environmentalrespect.com. Creating a self-audit entry has never been easier, thanks to the Environmental Respect Awards’ save-as-you-go entry process. Aerial applicators can save their entries and update them at a later time by logging in with their username and password.

 

The Environmental Respect Awards are sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the new agriculture division of DowDupont, and presented by CropLife magazine and AgriBusiness Global. One business in each state and a sub-regional winner from each of three U.S regions (East, Central, West) plus Canada will be recognized as the best business in their respective areas. Regional Winners from each of three U.S. regions plus Canada are invited to Washington DC for a gala celebration that will take place in October 2019. A top regional award – named as “Ambassador of Respect” –  is revealed only at the grand finale of the gala celebration.

Contest Tips

Want to get a leg up on the competition? Here are some tips from past judges to make your self-audit entry stand out:

• Supply photos, such as pictures that pertain to your security, mixing and loading, storage and safety procedures. Pictures will bolster the claims you report in your self-audit booklet.
• Supply supporting materials. Consider newspaper and magazine articles about your business, community letters, marketing materials, copies of written emergency plans, facility maps, press materials, etc. The more information, the better.
• Include comments and explanations. Several areas throughout the self-audit online application request comments or explanations. Use those areas to explain your business procedures,
• Provide background information and communicate your company policies. The selection panel refers to the comment sections to help make final decisions about winning entries.
• Make sure every question is answered in the self-audit. All unanswered questions count as a “No” response and can significantly affect your entry score.

Visit environmentalrespect.com for more information and to get started.

NAAA to Exhibit at AirVenture 2019 with Air Tractor, Thrush, AgAir Update & AG-NAV

After three successful appearances at EAA’s AirVenture in 2016, 2017 and 2018, NAAA will once again exhibit at AirVenture this year in Oshkosh, Wis., July 22–28. NAAA has partnered with Air Tractor, Thrush Aircraft, AG-NAV and AgAir Update for this year’s exhibit. Both Air Tractor and Thrush will be providing aircraft for the booth and AG-NAV will exhibit their navigation system and accessories. NAAA staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the week to speak with attendees who want to learn more about ag aviation.  

AirVenture Oshkosh, which is organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) each summer at Wittnam Regional Airport is a weeklong celebration of aviation. Nearly 10,000 aircraft will be on display while more than 800 exhibitors, 1,000 forums and workshops, 4,800 volunteers and more than 600,000 visitors are expected this year.

 

NAAA exhibits at AirVenture bring more awareness to careers in the aerial application industry because the weeklong show is flooded with aviation enthusiasts, military personnel and young aviators looking for new opportunities. AirVenture is one of the largest airshows in the United States and NAAA’s presence will help our industry recruit potential ag pilots. NAAA is also adding awareness by hosting an AirVenture Forum on Mon., July 22 from 10 – 11:15 a.m. in Workshop Classroom A, where we’ll be discussing the industry and how to become an ag pilot in further detail.

Moreover, it’s a wonderful way to educate adults and children about the importance of our industry in producing a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food, fiber and bio-fuel, in addition to protecting forestry and controlling health-threatening pests. The representation by our industry at AirVenture is a move in the right direction to bring positive awareness about aerial application to the general public.

July is a very busy time of year for ag pilots; however, we know some operators and pilots visit AirVenture and some even exhibit their own aircraft. There are also many NAAA Allied members who exhibit each year, and we encourage you to visit with them if you are onsite. If you’ll be at AirVenture, visit us in Booths 446, 457, and 458 in the main aircraft display area near the traffic control tower. If you’ll be exhibiting your aircraft, let us know where you’ll be!
 

Are you looking for a way to spread the good word of aerial application and share our industry with your community? Check out NAAA’s brochure that talks about the positives of aerial application, “Flying for Your Food,”. And don’t forget to use NAAA’s Media Kit when speaking on behalf of the industry.

 

Stay tuned to the AirVenture excitement on NAAA’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and to view photos while NAAA staff are onsite at AirVenture.

2019 Award Nominations Deadline July 10

The NAAA Awards Committee has moved the 2019 awards nomination deadline up to July 10 to adjust for the 2019 Ag Aviation Expo’s earlier pre-Thanksgiving dates this year. The 2019 NAAA Award recipients will be honored Nov. 21 at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet, but the committee depends on readers like you to nominate worthwhile candidates.

 

The aerial application industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. Please help us identify these unsung heroes, and do it before you get into the thick of your season. There are nine NAAA Award categories and one NAAREF Award. Anyone can submit a nomination, but nominees must be members of NAAA.

 

The 2019 Awards Nomination Form is available as print-only and fillable PDFs at AgAviation.org/awards.

NAAA Award Categories

Agrinaut Award: Honors an agricultural aircraft operator or operating organization that has made an outstanding contribution in the field of ag aircraft operations. The recipient for the award must be or have been actively engaged in commercial agricultural application with an agricultural aircraft and the achievement cited should be a “state of the art” contribution for the benefit of the agricultural aircraft industry as a whole.

 

Allied Industry Individual Award: Recognizes an NAAA member or staff and/or an allied industry individual who has significantly contributed their efforts for the benefit of the allied industry and the aerial application industry. (Presented by the NAAA Allied Industry Committee)

 

Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award: Recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the design of agricultural aircraft and/or related equipment.

 

Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award: Recognizes individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the Operation S.A.F.E. program. (Presented by NAAREF)

 

John Robert Horne Memorial Award: Honors a pilot with five or fewer years of experience in the agricultural aviation industry who has an exemplary safety record and/or has contributed to safety in ag aviation.

 

Larsen-Miller Community Service Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by a member to his community.

 

Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award: Acknowledges those who contribute to NAAA in its efforts to educate the public about aerial application. (Presented by the NAAA Support Committee)

 

Outstanding Service Award: Awards outstanding service to the commercial agricultural aviation industry or to its association.

 

Related Industry Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions by an allied industry member and his or her company.

 

William O. Marsh Safety Award: Recognizes significant achievements in safety, safety education or an outstanding operational safety program.

 

To make a nomination, send completed entries by July 10 to NAAA at (202) 546-5726 (fax) or information@agaviation.org.

$20K in Scholarship Aid Available for Aspiring Ag Pilots

How does $5,000 sound to help someone pursue their dream of becoming a professional ag pilot? Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available under the 2019 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program to assist four aspiring ag pilots in their journey.

 

NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four aspiring ag pilots at the 2018 Ag Aviation Expo. From L–R, NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship recipients Parker Gore, Walter Meise, Will Souther and Emory Lobley, with Thrush Aircraft VP of Sales Eric Rojek and BASF’s John Sabatka, respectively. BASF and Thrush co-sponsor NAAA’s pilot training scholarship.

The goal of NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program is to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping operator members bring new pilots into the profession and help fund their training. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, and scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible. The scholarship program is administered by NAAA and funded by educational grants provided by BASF and Thrush.

 

This year, NAAA will award up to four scholarships valued at $5,000 each. This is a win-win for NAAA Operator members and individuals seeking training funds to support their pursuit of becoming a professional ag pilot.

How to Apply

To be considered for the 2019 scholarship, along with completing the two-part application, every applicant must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member sponsoring the applicant.
• An essay of 250 words or less explaining why you want to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how you would use NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further your education and training.
• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

NAAA will award the recipients of the 2019 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in November at the Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando. Last year NAAA awarded $5,000 scholarships to four young individuals who represent the future of ag aviation: Parker Gore of Cleveland, Miss.; Emory Lobley of Dalhart, Texas; Walter Meise of Moses Lake, Wash.; and Will Souther of Douglas, Ga.

 

To learn more about the 2019 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship, please review the instructions included with the 2019 application. Please contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org for clarification about any of the application requirements.

 

While the applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, NAAA membership is not a prerequisite for the person applying for the scholarship. Becoming an NAAA Associate member, however, is a great way for candidates to learn more about the industry and augment their training.

 

The deadline to apply for a 2019 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31.

NAAA Now Offering Legal Services on Federal Transportation Laws to Operator and Pilot Members

To continuously improve upon its service to the aerial application industry, NAAA has entered into an agreement to provide legal-consulting services to its aerial application operator and pilot members on federal transportation issues. The agreement is with the Law Office of John L. Wright, PC, out of Broomfield, Colo., and NAAA will provide up to one hour of legal consultation to an operator and/or pilot member of the association on federal aviation laws, including federal aviation taxation issues and federal transportation laws. The agreement will last at least through 2019. Members in this category seeking these legal services should first contact NAAA’s main office (202-546-5722, information@agaviation.org) and NAAA will serve as the bridge connecting members in need of legal consultation with Mr. Wright.

 

Mr. Wright has received some fame in the agricultural aviation industry as of late by successfully representing several Colorado aerial application operators that were facing off-target application charges filed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The case was dismissed by an administrative law judge due to evidence showing the professionalism of each operation involved, such as participation in Operation S.A.F.E. fly-ins, keeping application and weather site records, circling the field prior to application, checking wind direction, and EPA testing for safety of the products used.

 

The Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association and several Colorado aerial application operators that use the legal services of Mr. Wright have attested to his legal abilities. NAAA may also seek Mr. Wright’s services and interpretation of certain federal transportation laws and regulations to better serve NAAA members.