2021 NAAA/NAAREF Fall Board Meeting: Centennial, Togetherness and Substantive Planning for Ag Aviati

Last week your National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation (NAAREF) and National Agricultural Aviation Association’s (NAAA) board, committee and staff members met in Fort Worth, Texas, to conduct business for the betterment of the U.S. agricultural aviation industry.

The meetings began with the presenters of the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System (PAASS) gathering to fine-tune and practice the program’s 2021–2022 PAASS curriculum, which will focus on preventing the likely fatal results of flying into IIMC or Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Also, substantive data on applying efficaciously and environmentally in a crosswind will be presented in the upcoming PAASS season that starts today in Michigan. NAAREF committees also met to consider future curriculum for the program that will include increasing ag pilots’ awareness when flying around wires and highlighting an operation undergoing a chemical storage risk management audit to maximize security and safety.

NAAA’s Political Action Committee—AgAv PAC— hosted a breakfast at the meetings for U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) whose district includes Irving, Texas. The Congresswoman serves on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as the House Small Business Committee. The Aviation Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation, including safety topics related to marking and logging of towers in rural areas—an issue of paramount importance for the agricultural aviation industry—in fact, Congresswoman Van Duyne offered her services to move the FAA to promulgate the tower-marking statute NAAA successfully urged Congress to enact in 2018 and offered her service on the Small Business Committee to press action of federal officials to help our industry’s small business aerial applicators.

The general session of the board, once called to order by 2021 NAAA Mark Kimmel of Mississippi, followed precedent with an overview of the status of the association and ag aviation industry by Andrew Moore, NAAA’s chief executive officer. He began with stating positive ag economic statistics that USDA is forecasting for 2021 net farm income--$113 billion—up $15 billion from 2020. The 2021 income is less dependent on government dependency from 2020 when $46 billion subsidized agriculture versus $28 billion in 2021—a decline of 40%. In addition, cash receipts for crops were up 20% in 2021. This is due to record ag exports of $173.5 billion in 2021 for a $16 billion surplus this year. USDA projects 2022 exports at $177.5 billion for an $18 billion surplus. Much of the trade is due to the phase 1 trade agreement with China and the Trump Administration. China purchased $16.7 billion in U.S. ag products in 2020, $37 billion in 2021 and $39 billion in 2022. Farm expenses, such as aerial application services, were $383.5 billion for 2021, up 7% compared to 2020.

Moore then referenced numbers from the NAAA survey to U.S. ag aviation operators conducted towards the 2021 season’s end. Of the 17.1% that participated, it indicated that the number of hours flown per ag aircraft increased 22% from 274.5 hours in 2020 to 334.5 hours in 2021. The 8-year average number of hours flown per aircraft is 316.1 hours, which 2021 hurdled by 6%. 2.56 ag aircraft were used per operation in 2021, compared to 2.26 aircraft in 2020—up 13%--and up 11.3% from the 8-year average of 2.3 aircraft. 80% of operators treated either significantly more (25%), somewhat more (32%) or the same number of acres (22%) in 2021 compared with 2020. 20% of operators treated somewhat fewer (10%) or significantly fewer (10%) acres in 2021 compared to 2020. The fewer acres treated were largely due to operators in the West and Upper Midwest that were affected by severe drought. Operators upbeat about the 2022 season made up 43%. Those unwilling to declare optimism were concerned about additional drought and burdensome government policies.

Moore then discussed the NAAA’s most significant service to the industry—ensuring that EPA approves the use of pesticides for aerial use. This year NAAA commented on over 50 pesticides and their need to keep aerial use on the label—NAAA has commented to keep aerial use registrations on 224 pesticides since 2017. Moore mentioned that the herbicide paraquat and the miticide propargite were slated for significant reductions in aerial uses initially until NAAA’s comments, using more realistic use methods and data, saved many of the chemicals’ aerial uses. NAAA has also made head roads with chemical companies and EPA to test the flight physics of lightweight and multi-rotor drones to ensure their spray pattern is efficacious and environmentally sound.

Moore then discussed the current administration and Congress’ focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts are afoot to reward growers that sequester carbon. NAAA has been actively advocating to the USDA, EPA, and Congress on aerial’s environmental benefits sequestering carbon. For example, in recent comments to the USDA, NAAA calculated statistics from collected data confirming that ag aviation efficacy, timeliness and protection of a crop increases yields thereby protecting 27.4 million acres of carbon-sequestering natural land that would have to be converted to cropland annually if aerial application didn’t exist. Moreover, aerial seeding of cover crops sequesters 1.9 million metric tons of CO2 or 412,000 carbon-combustion auto engines. Increasing cover-crops 15% in the U.S. would further sequester 11.9 million metric tons of CO2 annually. Moore then stated that the latest, multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation bill developed by congressional agricultural leaders in the House of Representatives includes $28 billion for agriculture--$5 billion for farmers that cover crop.

Next presented was news that the FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation Group has again delayed promulgating the tower-marking and logging statute NAAA lobbied successfully for in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization law. Not to be deterred, NAAA is administering congressional pressure in the form of a letter from Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, to FAA Administrator Dickson, to promptly move the regulation forward to save low-altitude pilots’ lives before even more towers are erected.

Moore then discussed the tremendous public relations success related to NAAA’s three-anda-half-year preparation extolling the history, importance and advancement of the industry on this centennial year, mentioned the following:

• The unveiling of Agaviation100.com, a website designed for the media to simplify their reporting about the industry’s first 100 years, including stories, statistics, photos, videos, documentaries and a timeline covering 10 decades.

• A national campaign directed by public relations guru Steve Powell targeting aviation, agriculture, news and entertainment media informing the Fourth Estate of ag aviation’s centenary and technological and professional progression.

• The book Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application, which comprehensively covers the industry’s past 10 decades and its essence. Moore also mentioned that AgAir Update is selling the book for NAAA at: marketplace. agairupdate.com/products/100thanniversary-coffee-table-book.

• The construction of a detailed timeline of the industry’s key events designed and produced for public events and museums.

• Several media events from EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Jackson, Mississippi, to multiple media events in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan held. Attending have been the media, key policymakers and coalition partners. Many more such events are to come and will continue to be organized, including an event on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall and concluding at Oshkosh 2022.

• An NAAA facilitated donation of an Air Tractor AT-400 in the form of the Disney movie Plane’s lead character “Dusty Crophopper,” donated by Rusty and Lea Lindeman to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center—the second-largest aviation museum in the world, receiving over 1.6 million visitors each year.

Moore announced that according to Agility PR Solutions’ media monitoring service, over a 30-day period that includes most of August 2021, the campaign netted nearly 200 media mentions nationwide associated with the industry’s centennial, with a potential audience reach of 400 million consumers. The ad value equivalency for that amount of coverage is worth $10 million (versus a few hundred thousand dollars spent by NAAA to execute the campaign). The list of media entities covering the centennial in the “In the News” section of AgAviation100. com, including articles from Smithsonian magazine, RFD-TV, Farm Journal, AOPA and syndicated stories from The Associated Press.

Accident statistics for the year was then discussed. Sadly, there have been 12 fatal ag aviation accidents in 2021. There have been 49 total ag aviation accidents in 2021—so far, the lowest number on record

The 2021 Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah, Georgia, was then discussed. The Kickoff Breakfast on Dec. 6 will have as its speaker John Stossel, 19-time Emmy-winning reporter of ABC’s 20/20, Fox Business News, and Stossel TV, who has been hailed as “the most consistently thought-provoking TV reporter of our time.” Also mentioned was the Dec. 7. General Session which will premiere an elongated 15-minute film of the 100-year history of the industry followed by a panel of industry veterans discussing the industry’s history and a panel of industry leaders forecasting the future of the industry. There will be 26 educational sessions with 23 states offering continuing educational units on subjects ranging from aerial application technology to pilot safety to new agrichemicals. The show floor will have over 130 exhibitors with 13 aircraft from vintage to new to rotorcraft to auction aircraft, such as an Ag Cat, G-164 A, two-seat, open cockpit bi-plane donated by Darrel and Deb Mertens. Also, Pratt & Whitney Canada will be donating a PT6A-34 turbine engine.

Membership figures were discussed next and through September of 2021 NAAA has 531 operator members and 436 pilot members for a total of 1,551 members, compared to 583 total operator members, 463 pilot members and 1,654 total members in 2020. There are 1,560 operators in the U.S. and 2,028 pilot members according to NAAA’s 2019 Aerial Application Industry Survey. NAAA completed its 2020-2021 fiscal year with a surplus of $321,157 and NAAREF completed its fiscal year with a surplus of $68,096. The surplus was due to reduced staff through attrition, reduced travel expenses, and also generous centennial celebration donations. NAAA spends $1,398.28 per member based on $2.119 million in expenses and 1,521 members. NAAA member dues only account for 33.6% of total expenses. It costs $1.63 per day for operators to belong to NAAA and $0.68 per day for pilots to belong.

Moore concluded by making some near and longer-term forecasts. In the short term he recommended that operators prepare for fuel and chemical shortages. This has been a big topic in the ag press and NAAA heard from a number of operators in the Pacific Northwest about not being able to access adequate fuel supplies during the summer of 2021. Many variables have been raised as to why, including China still trying to build up its chemical supply since the Trump trade embargo and due to more herbicide demand due to weed tolerance. COVID and a reduced labor supply due to government unemployment subsidies are also a factor as well as the freeze in the South over the winter that shuttered movement of supplies. To address this situation installing extra tanks for fuel, fertilizer and chemical storage was recommended as was retailing product because that moves a purchaser more toward the head of the queue when purchasing directly from a manufacturer, plus it directly shows chemical manufacturers who is purchasing the product and as such they will work harder to register such product for ag aviation buyers. According to NAAA’s year-end 2021 survey, 49% of ag aviation operators retail some or all of their product. Moore concluded by stating that in the longer term—during the industry’s next century—we will see a professional agricultural aviator certification standard providing those with that designation in the industry more benefits; there will be more automation allowing ag pilots to focus more on obstacles and the industry will get more and more into aerial imaging and precision, variable rate application.

The session then adjourned and the NAAA and NAAREF Boards and Committees conducted the following key business on behalf of the agricultural aviation industry.

Allied and Convention Committees: It was discussed that the Savannah Convention Center is expanding with construction currently underway on the northeast side of the building to double its size, but this reconstruction should have no effect on NAAA 2021 convention. The committees relayed a reminder that the early registration (before November 5th) convention price for NAAA members will be $270 per member (not including meal functions) and $1,005 for non-members (not including meal functions) so attendees are encouraged to join NAAA. In addition, day passes would be raised for non-members to $380 per day at the 2021 convention, then to $480 per day in 2022 and $580 per day in 2023 to encourage non-members to join the NAAA. The day rate for an NAAA member is $245.

Awards Committee: The committee determined the following awards that will be presented at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 9, in Savannah at the convention:

• Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award – Glenn Martin

• Zoren & Joan O’Brien Memorial Outstanding Award – Two recipients: Rusty Lindeman and Damon Reabe

• Related Industry Award – Eric Rojek

• Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award – Troy Reabe

• Allied Industry Individual Award – Terry Humphrey

• John Robert Horne Memorial Award – Mikel Hofer

• Evans-Christopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award – Dr. Scott Bretthauer

More details about the awardees and their accomplishments will be presented at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 9, in Savannah at the convention and in the Winter 2022 issue of Agricultural Aviation magazine.

Budget & Finance Committee: 2021 Treasurer Dwayne O’Brien provided details about the NAAA 2020-2021 audit (see numbers in CEO report above) and the September 2021 NAAA financials. The Board accepted a motion to approve the 2020-2021 NAAA Audit.

Communications Committee: The committee encouraged all to read the book “Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application,” and to provide it to their farmer customers in addition to their local libraries and museum gift shops to sell. marketplace. agairupdate.com/products/100thanniversary-coffee-table-book

Governing Documents: The committee discussed consolidation of NAAA committees and encouraged committee chairs to work together to see if efficiencies might be made by consolidating panels of similar objectives, for example, Research and Technology possibly merging with Precision Agriculture and Allied possibly merging with Convention.

Government Relations: In addition to the issues discussed above, more discussion occurred in regard to supply concerns related to fuel and crop inputs. One recommendation was made that fuel supply issues are much less likely if buying from a branded fuel company and not a fuel surplus company. Fuel prices may be more expensive for a branded fuel company, but delivery of fuel is much more likely. In addition, NAAA is looking into this issue in more depth to ensure more likely delivery of fuel supplies for aerial applicators using fuel for farmers growing food, fiber and biofuel crops.

Insurance: Many topics from sharing opinions on a professional aerial application certification program to aerial application education was discussed. The committee will be providing a substantive magazine article for Agricultural Aviation on how aerial application operators can sell insurance underwriters and brokers on their professionalism—from being claim free to belonging to professional trade associations to actively participating in recurring training—and be rewarded as such with lower rates.

Long Range Planning: The Long Range Planning Committee discussed a series of very forward issues including recommending to NAAREF to undergo the construction of a tiered program, similar to a certification program, where ranks of ag aviation professionalism would be classified by tiers where the first tier would be more basic and include having the necessary licenses to make aerial applications; tier two might include tier 1 and belonging to regional and national associations; tier three would include the first two tiers and, in addition, might include annual recurrent training via PAASS, Operation S.A.F.E., etc. The objective being constructing a program that may lead to benefits—from better insurance rates, etc. for those in the more advanced tiers due to efforts made to mitigate risk.

The committee also discussed the success of the recent centennial anniversary’s public relations campaign of the agricultural aviation industry that NAAA undertook. With such a significant public reach, the committee established a directive to conduct an audit of the association’s communications to determine if the focus of its resources would be better served attaining more positive public relations compared to publishing a magazine or other communication’s mediums.

Membership: Four NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship recipients were chosen and will be notified soon. The “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is sponsored by BASF and Thrush, and each 2021 recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

In addition, the committee discussed creating a 30 to 60-second video highlighting and marketing the benefits of NAAA membership in the PAASS Program, in social media and elsewhere.

Museum: The committee discussed a number of interesting projects and the additional funds bequeathed to the National Agricultural Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Jackson, Miss. by the estate of NAAA’s first president, the late Dick Reade. These projects include obtaining an Aeronca Champ aircraft, and a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 piston engine cutaway. The new digital, touchscreen kiosks highlighting all of the Hall of Fame recipients donated by AgAir Update was also discussed and the information on the kiosks will also be available on the internet.

Nominating: The Nominating Committee nominated the 2022 NAAA officer team, which will voted on at the next board meeting Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. The nominated officers are:

• President – Jim Perrin (WI)

• Vice President – Craig Craft (NC)

• Secretary – Ray Newcomb (Northeast)

• Treasurer – Darrel Mertens (CO)

Precision Agriculture and Research & Technology Committees: A number of research projects were discussed by these two committees in addition to encouraging researchers develop and/or fine-tune, such as see-andspray technology to “sliders” that are equipped in front of nozzles on the aircraft that generates an airflow that drives the droplets into the crops through downwash potentially further mitigating drift and augmenting efficacy.

Safety and Federal Aviation Regulations: The committee discussed a company out of Australia named Balmoral that has created powerline markers. The product is highly complimented by key Australian ag aviation industry representatives. NAAA has reached out to the company, and they are now attending/exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo.

Support: The committee discussed the 2021-2022 Athena Program theme which will focus on dealing with crew stress. Programs are being presented in CO, LA, NE, PNW, Mid-States and Tri-States. In addition, the committee will host a Savannah Riverboat cruise with lunch, sponsored by GarrCo Products, on Monday, Dec. 6, with the Athena Program taking place on Wednesday, December 8th. They will also be hosting a 50/50 raffle at the convention. The committee’s $3,000 scholarship program essay theme for 2022 will remain “What role does ag aviation play in producing a local commodity?”

National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation: The NAAREF Board may potentially have the gift of the proceeds from the sale of an Ag Cat that will be donated for auction at the convention. More information on that will be forthcoming.

Also at the convention, the NAAREF session will showcase Air Tractor’s Turn Smart 2, a safe turn video featuring astronaut Mike Mullane telling pilots to detour from normalization of deviance. It will also feature ag pilot and aerobatic professional Steve Gustafson of Team Aeroshell on turning aircraft safely.

The NAAREF Board also discussed the rising rates of insurance. It was also discussed that while insurance underwriters do look at the professionalism of pilots, such as membership, PAASS, etc. they may not require PAASS attendance for insurance. Much discussion went into the considerable reduction of accidents and drift incidents that have occurred over the past 23 years due to PAASS participation, even though less than half of ag aviation operators and pilots attend the program. As such, NAAREF brought the following motion to the NAAA Board which was approved:

The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) and the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) advocate annual participation in the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System’s (PAASS) program for U.S. agricultural aviation operators and pilots due to the program’s proven ability to markedly reduce aerial application accidents and reduce drift occurrences. Since the PAASS program was made available to the industry in 1999, the aerial application industry has seen a 25.27% decrease in accidents and a 26% decrease in drift occurrences. This marked reduction in accidents and drift occurrences happened with approximately 47% of agricultural aviation operators and pilots attending the program (of the approximately 3,400 ag pilots in the U.S. only 1,593 attended the 2019-2020 PAASS Program).

Between 2014 and 2020, of the 333 agricultural aviation accidents that occurred, 117 were from pilots that had not attended PAASS; 52 were from pilots that had attended PAASS once; 41 were from pilots that had attended PAASS twice; 39 were from pilots that attended PAASS three times; 37 were from pilots that attended PAASS four times and 47 were from pilots that attended PAASS five times. Agricultural aviation accidents and drift occurrences result in more expenses for the insurance industry in the form of legal costs, equipment costs and crop damage costs. Conversely, these accident and drift occurrences result in higher insurance costs for agricultural aviation operators and pilots. As such, NAAA and NAAREF request that the agricultural aviation insurance industry require annual PAASS participation from all agricultural aviation operators and pilots that they insure.

Before the conclusion of the meeting NAAA Secretary Sue Stewart presented a $3,000 NAAREF donation from the New Mexico Agricultural Aviation Association. It was also announced that they the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association is sponsoring the PAASS Program for the 2021-2022 at $5,000 and Arkansan Brenda Watts (2016 Past President) announced that the Arkansas golf tournament proceeds will be donated to the NAAA’s 100th anniversary campaign.

At that point, a substantive four days of meetings developing policies and resources to healthily sustain your important U.S. agricultural aviation industry, the meeting concluded.