WASHINGTON, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With corn acreage at record levels, the potential for significant aerial application activity in the Corn Belt states is expected to be high this summer in order to protect crops from harmful pests and diseases. The increase in activity is due to a large demand for fungicide applications to prevent and or treat fungi damage from harming crops.
Many of these fungicide applications will begin during the tasseling or pollinating stage of the corn. Corn is pollinated by the fall of pollen from male flowers (tassels) at the top of the stem onto female flowers (silks) lower down. During this time a large volume of aerial application activity is expected to protect crops from insects and disease. Tasseling in the Corn Belt can occur from now until early August. The Corn Belt States are primarily Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota but also include parts of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio. The increased acreage in corn is attributed to the growing demand for biofuels, such as ethanol, which is made from corn. More acres of corn are also being grown in a number of other U.S. states this year.
According to Andrew Moore, executive director of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), "Aerial is the ideal method of application because it can treat the crop much faster and, unlike other methods of application, it does not disturb the crop or the topsoil."
Moore continued, "If a person in rural areas hears the hum of an aircraft's engine and/or sees the fluid movement of an ag aircraft flying low over the horizon treating crops, please observe from a safe distance away from the field being treated to give the pilot adequate space to maneuver. Aerial applicators are well-trained professionals who take very seriously their responsibility to protect the safety of their neighbors, employees, the public and the environment. They are licensed to perform applications by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and their state(s) pesticide enforcement agency."
NAAA is a national trade association and represents more than 1,300 members in 46 states. NAAA member operator/pilots are licensed as commercial applicators that use aircraft to enhance food, fiber and biofuel production, protect forestry, and control health-threatening pests.
Contact: Lindsay Barber
Phone: (202) 546-5722
Email: lbarber@agaviation.org
National Agricultural Aviation Association
CONTACT: Lindsay Barber, for National Agricultural Aviation Association
+1-202-546-5722, or lbarber@agaviation.org
