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Farm Bill Proceeds Out of House Ag Committee with Ag Aviation Regulatory Relief Measures

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture advanced a Farm Bill by a bipartisan vote of 33-21. Four committee Democrat—Reps. Don Davis (N.C.), Sanford Bishop (Ga.), Eric Sorensen (Ill.) and Yadira Caraveo (Colo.)—joined Republicans. NAAA-advocated regulatory relief provisions were included in the legislation, such as language ensuring that EPA and pesticide enforcement state lead agencies have the exclusive role in regulating pesticides and not a hodge-podge of local jurisdictions without scientific expertise that may make pesticide use rules based on emotion that unnecessarily handicaps agricultural production and burdens farmers and small business pesticide application businesses. The bill also included an amendment introduced by U.S. Representative David Rouzer (R-NC) “eliminating any duplicative permitting processes for the use of FIFRA approved pesticides while maintaining public health and environmental protections.” The amendment would legally take on the unnecessary and burdensome NPDES pesticide general permit (PGP) that a federal court mandated EPA require for pesticide applications made over or near water back in 2009. The NPDES PGP has resulted in an unnecessary paperwork burden and jeopardized additional legal liability for farmers and commercial pesticide applicators for well over a decade.

NAAA has also advocated support for aerial application technology research funding conducted by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service be included in the House’s report that is included as part of the Farm Bill, in addition to language ensuring compliance with tower-marking for entities receiving federal grants associated with the construction of rural broadband or renewable energy towers. The House report has yet to be released publicly.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition also lauded the bill by stating “The Committee’s affirmation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as an advanced biofuel in the farm bill will make SAF eligible for important [USDA] programs and help to develop a critical new market for crops and agricultural waste streams.” Feedstuff crops, such as soybeans used to make SAF could markedly increase in acreage if the SAF market grows as predicted.

The new Farm Bill’s path forward is uncertain as the already-extended Sept. 30 deadline nears. Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said in a statement after the House markup that she’s “glad” the process is moving forward, but reiterated her disdain for the House bill’s policy proposals. Stabenow stated, “Despite areas of common ground, it is now clear that key parts of the House bill split the Farm Bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law. And it is also clear that we do not have time to waste on proposals that cannot meet that goal.” NAAA will keep members informed of the Farm Bill process as events happen.
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Air Tractor Celebrates 50 Years This Week

NAAA wishes heartfelt congratulations to Air Tractor for celebrating its 50th anniversary this week. Late founder Leland Snow dedicated his life to developing and designing quality ag planes for the world. In the early 1970s, after two-and-a-half years of coming up with about 600 production drawings, completing endless engineering reports to obtain FAA certification and the arduous task of acquiring financing, Leland began work on a prototype of the “AT-300.” The AT stood for “Air Tractor,” and the first of the series had a 320-gallon capacity. It was certified on November 30, 1973.

Through March of 1975, Leland’s crew manufactured two dozen Air Tractors and demand continued to soar. He took out a loan to build a 54,000-square-foot factory building at the Olney, Texas airport, which was operational by November 1975. From that point forward, the company grew, and Leland and Air Tractor developed the AT-402B, AT-502B, 502XP, AT-504, AT-602, and AT-802A. The company also sells the AT-802F and the AT-802F Fire Boss with amphibious scoopers for aerial firefighting and the AT-802U for warfare.

Air Tractor employee-owners celebrate serial number 802A-1000.

On July 1, 2008, Air Tractor became an employee-owned company with the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) plan. Leland and his family felt that Air Tractor employees helped make the company what it was, and the benefit of ownership would drive them to continue to build the business that he loved. Leland passed away in February 2011 at 80 years old.

In 2021, the 4,000th Air Tractor was sold to Mike Rivenbark of Moore’s Aerial Applicators, LLC in Clinton, NC. In 2023, the company celebrated the sale of the 1,000th model AT-802. According to Air Tractor, 1989 was when Leland began designing a large-capacity, single-engine airplane specifically for aerial firefighting. He believed it would have a positive impact on that industry. After more than two years of design, modification, certification, and manufacture, in 1993, the first production single-seat AT-802A air tanker rolled out the doors. It wasn’t long before Air Tractor produced the single-seat AT-802A for agricultural aerial spraying. As an 800-gallon ag plane, its popularity soared with aerial applicators. The 802 series is the largest production single-engine agricultural airplane in the world. An even larger 1,000+ gallon aircraft is currently awaiting FAA approval.

The 4,000th Air Tractor, a 502XP, sold to Mike Rivenbark in 2021.

Towards the end of 2023, Air Tractor had 415 employees and delivered 200 airplanes. Their 2024 production goal is 218 airplanes.

Again, congratulations to Air Tractor and its employees on 50 years of hard work dedicated to supporting the aerial application industry and aiding farmers in producing a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and bioenergy, protecting forestry, firefighting and controlling health-threatening pests.
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Bill Lavender, AgAir Update Publisher, Celebrating 50 Years in the Aerial Application Industry

Bill Lavender, former ag pilot and publisher of AgAir Update, is celebrating 50 years in the aerial application industry in early June. In the early 1970s, he was an optician making $150 in weekly earnings. However, a roommate who worked as a crop duster sparked a change. The stark difference in their incomes, with the roommate earning nearly a thousand dollars a week, prompted Bill to pursue a new path.

He quickly earned his pilot’s license and progressed from flying banners and skydivers to active agricultural aviation flying as an operator and pilot in central Georgia. Bill became very active in the Georgia Agricultural Aviation Association (GAAA). Quarterly, each GAAA director took turns writing and sending a small newsletter called AgAir Update to members around the state. Bill didn’t mind working on the newsletter when his turn came around, and he was good at writing. After realizing that charging ads would offset publication costs, Bill grew AgAir Update into a southeastern regional publication. In 1988, he obtained the rights from GAAA and converted AgAir Update from a newsletter into a newspaper. By the early 1990s, the newspaper expanded into the national market.

In the late 1990s, the newspaper achieved international status when Bill offered it to pilots crop dusting in South America, which meant translating the content to both Spanish and Portuguese. He retired from ag spraying in the early 2000s to focus on his publications. Now a glossy magazine, today AgAir Update is distributed to more than 4,000 subscribers worldwide and continues to be a popular trade publication.

Bill has also been active as an exhibitor and sponsor at the NAAA annual convention and state/regional association conventions. He was one of the first participants in the 1996 Leadership Training Program and served on the NAAA Allied Industry Committee from 1999 to 2003. He was also part of the original six-member steering committee that provided oversight to the Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System (PAASS) fundraising and development committees.

During his four-decade aviation career, he owned and operated over 15 aircraft, from AgWagons to Turbine Thrush and Barons. Bill taught his son, Graham, to fly at a very early age, continuing the family aviation tradition. Bill amassed over 14,000 flight hours and retired from general aviation flying in 2021.

Bill was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2023 and the National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame in 2017. The NAAHOF is housed at the Mississippi Ag Museum in Jackson, Miss. Bill has also received the following NAAA awards: Richard “Dick” Reade Memorial Award (previously the Related Industry Award) in 1992 and the NAAA Falcon Club Pin in 2002. Congratulations to one of the biggest champions of the aerial application industry on celebrating 50 years in our great industry.
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Welcome to Fort Worth: Mayor’s Special Message to Ag Aviation Expo Attendees

As Fort Worth gears up to host the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo, Mayor Mattie Parker has released a video message welcoming attendees to the city. In her address, Mayor Parker extends a warm Texas welcome, emphasizing the city’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant community, and commitment to making this event a memorable experience for all.

Secure Your Stay Early
With the influx of visitors expected for the expo, hotel rooms are anticipated to fill up quickly. Book your accommodations early to ensure you have a comfortable and convenient home base while you enjoy all that this city and the expo have to offer. NAAA has secured room blocks at three hotels, at great prices, all within a block of the convention center.

It is important for attendees to stay in the NAAA room block. We get the best hotel room rates for our attendees! If the NAAA hotel block is not filled, we cannot offer these great rates for future years! If you have trouble booking a hotel room, please do not book outside the block. Instead, contact Amy May on NAAA’s staff with your arrival and departure dates.

NOTE: No one from (or on behalf of) any of the hotels or NAAA will contact you to book a hotel room. NAAA recommends that you make your own hotel reservations using the information we provide. Do not book a room with any company that calls you directly.

Details for the 2024 Ag Aviation Expo

  • Dates: Nov. 18-21, 2024
  • Location: Fort Worth Convention Center and Omni (across the street from Convention Center)
  • Kickoff Breakfast Speaker: Kevin Humphreys, War Veteran, PTSD Counselor, Mental Health Ambassador
  • Schedule of Events: See the current, tentative schedule here.
  • Hotel: Details here.
  • Attendee Registration: Opens in August.
  • Exhibitor Booth Sales: Email Lindsay Barber if you would like to secure a large booth space (any booth size 10’x30’ or larger). 10×10 and 10×20 booth space sales begin July 11.
  • Sponsorship Opportunities: View the sponsorships opportunities here. We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes. Please email Lindsay Barber if you would like to secure a sponsorship from last year or be contacted about 2024 opportunities!
  • Auction Donations: Thank you to Pratt & Whitney Canada for donating a PT6-34AG to this year’s NAAA Live Auction. While we are still several months away from the Ag Aviation Expo, we are already accepting donations for the Live and Silent Auction. The earlier you inform us of your auction donation, the more advertising you will receive on the NAAA website and in NAAA publications. Support the aerial application industry by donating an item today. Email Amy May with your donation details.


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NAAREF to Host Fourth Annual In-Season Safety Session on June 3; Register In Advance
NAAREF will host an in-season safety session on June 3 at 8 p.m. CDT with a small panel of PAASS presenters. The topics will include current trends in ag accidents, good mentoring practices, and other topics of interest to participants. The safety session will be presented via a Zoom webinar. Click here to register. Please attend the NAAREF safety session and spread the word to others. As we enter the busiest time of the season it’s critical to keep safety at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.

NAAREF held the first in-season safety session in 2021 after the ag aviation industry had suffered five fatal accidents by the end of May. The safety sessions are intended to bring safety to the forefront of ag aviators’ minds just before the busy part of the spraying season occurs. Past topics covered include avoiding wire strikes, mentorship, helicopter operations, and avoiding mid-air collisions. You can view recordings of prior NAAREF Safety Sessions, as well as other great safety videos, on NAAA’s Safety and Education Videos webpage.
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