Hitting the Mark: Pros and Cons of Precision Application CropLife America & RISE Spring Conference Crystal City, Virginia - April 11, 2014 Rod Thomas President, National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation Owner/Operator of Thomas Helicopters, Gooding, ID

Presentation Outline Agricultural Aviation Industry Overview Aerial Application Technology −Development & Dissemination of Technological Information −Aerial Drift Reduction Technologies −Effectiveness of Aerial Application Technologies

Agricultural Aviation Industry Overview Consists of small businesses that use aircraft to enhance food, fiber and biofuel production, protect forestry, and control health- threatening pests. Approximately 1,350 Aerial Application Operations in the U.S. Aerial application accounts for almost 25% of all commercial crop protection applications, or 18.75% of all crop protection product applications. Using USDA Economic Research Service data it can be approximated that aerial applicators treat 77 million acres of cropland in the U.S. each year. This does not include forestry, pasture, rangeland or urban public health acres treated by air.

Agricultural Aviation Industry Overview No. of Aircraft per business: 2.1* Percent of industry airplanes:85% 1 Percent of industry helicopter:15% 1 Total ag aircraft 3,607 1 Total operator/pilots and pilots 2,700* Average operator – 53 years old with 27.4 years experience* Average pilot – 50 years old with 19.5 years experience* * From 2012 NAAA Survey for 2010 activity 1 From 2012 FAA General Aviation Survey for 2012 activity

Importance of aerial application Importance of aerial application: Can treat in undulating terrain and wet soil conditions that prohibit the use of other forms of application Fastest form of application (3 to 4 times as fast as other forms of application) Prevents soil compaction; allows for no-till; reducing soil erosion Non-intrusive; Prevents damage to crops by spraying above canopy; not within. Agricultural Aviation Industry Overview

Precision Application in the Agricultural Aviation Industry Technologies developed by allied industry (i.e. GPS manufacturers) and USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Group. Communicate technologies through NAAA magazine, eNews- letter, website, convention (ASABE session) Communicate through Industry Stewardship Programs

Aerial Application Stewardship Programs National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) - developed the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System (PAASS) Program - in PAASS is a comprehensive educational program for aerial applicators focusing on safety, security and drift mitigation. PAASS reaches nearly 2,000 ag pilots a year Offered at approximately 24 of the state and regional ag aviation association conventions each year. State Regulatory Agencies offer CEU’s for PAASS attendance. PAASS has received funding from EPA and FAA. Insurance companies offer discounts/additional coverage to ag pilots for attending PAASS. Crop protection product manufacturers have provided PAASS generous support since the program’s inception. Educational content designed by University PhD’s, crop protection product manufacturers, insurance company reps, aircraft & spray equipment engineers). Presented by experienced pilots, operators and other allied industry personnel professionally trained that speak the audience’s language. A recent PAASS Program focused on Precision Application.

Precision Agriculture has many definitions: −“accurately managing spatial and temporal variation in crop production” −in terms of aerial applications, it’s putting the right amount of product in the right location −Variable rate – rate varies across application site −Requires prescription map with application rates assigned to specific zones within field Prescribed doses and precise application is likely the future of agriculture. Many benefits: −Environmental −Fuel savings −Efficacy (only using exact amount of product needed) Expectation is Precision Ag and its related components will become commonplace in aerial application over time Percent of industry using variable rate application: 21% 1 1 From 2012 NAAA Survey PAASS Precision Agriculture Module

PAASS Module’s " Precision Application” Curriculum Introduction to PAASS Module’s " Precision Application” Curriculum

Flow Control for Liquid Application System Set-Up Flow Control for Liquid Application System Set-Up Mike Lee, Earl’s Flying Service, LLC Steele, MO Dr. Dennis Gardisser, WRK of Arkansas Lonoke, AR

Variable Rate Dry Application System Variable Rate Dry Application System Pete Jones Air Repair, Inc. Cleveland, MS

AIMMS Air Data Probe AIMMS (Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System) measures real time, site specific atmospheric turbulence data to support aerial application, including wind speed, direction, altitude, humidity and temperature. Enables pilot to line up swath in a manner that takes into account wind speed and direction to mitigate drift. Meteorological data inputted and tied to GPS latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates

Aerial Technology Advancements NAAA Communications and the PAASS program has influenced Aerial Applicators to increase their adoption of drift reduction techniques and technologies. Percent of industry that use GPS 99%* 1 Percent of industry using variable rate application 21%* Percent of industry using AIMMs 2 4%* Expectation is Precision Ag and its related components will become commonplace in aerial application over time. * From 2012 NAAA Survey 1 An NAAA 1998 survey indicated that 60% of agricultural airplanes were equipped with GPS as compared to 25% in Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System

A program designed to analyze liquid & dry application patterns. Calibrates aircraft to allow for: –Safe and accurate applications –Pattern uniformity and uniform droplet size –Reduce off-target drift –Professionally analyzed & corrected Aircraft with water containing dye is flown across string which captures sample of the pattern Operation S.A.F.E.

Swath is analyzed, and aircraft application equipment (nozzles, etc.) are calibrated accordingly until ideal swath width, efficacy are attained. Aircraft making pass spraying water with dye to be captured on the string and water-sensitive cards. Computer software uses data to determine spray pattern characteristics

Education & Technological Advancements Work Confirmed Aerial Drift Complaints Drop in drift complaints by 26% when comparing 3 year periods # Complaints

Conclusion Technological developments through USDA and private research enable equipment and educational content material for aerial application to be more environmentally friendly, precise and efficacious. Through aerial application educational programs, the professionalism of the aerial application industry is augmented and the stewardship of the environment is enhanced.

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