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- Global Pesticide Industry Drone Task Force Submits Drone Drift Study Data to EPA and Regulatory Agencies from Other Nations
- Air Tractor Returns to 2025 Farm Progress Show, Operators Welcome!
- Prayers for Pilots Hosting an Ag Pilot Appreciation Dinner on Sept. 20
- NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Registration Now Open
Global Pesticide Industry Drone Task Force Submits Drone Drift Study Data to EPA and Regulatory Agencies from Other Nations
The Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Application System Task Force (UAPASTF) is a global organization composed of pesticide manufacturing companies working together to gather data in support of the use of drones, or unmanned aerial spray systems (UASS), for making pesticide applications. UAPASTF was formed in 2021 to work with regulatory agencies and stakeholder groups from across the world to provide the necessary data to conduct risk assessments and regulate UASS. UAPASTF’s data gathering goals are to characterize UASS spray drift, evaluate occupational and bystander exposure, and characterize UASS crop residues.
The situation in the U.S. highlights the need for UAPASTF’s work – there has been a lack of data regarding drift potential and worker exposure for making pesticide applications with UASS. Despite not having UASS specific drift data for environmental and human health risk assessments used to register and re-register pesticides, EPA took a hands-off approach and allowed UASS to apply under the existing aerial application section on labels.
The data situation began to change at the end of the July when UAPASTF submitted the first-ever Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) data from spray drift field trials using UASS. The data was submitted to the following agencies:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Health Canada’s Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA),
- Australia’s Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
- United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD)
Future work by UAPASTF will include more drift studies, developing UASS best management practices, and estimating occupational exposure from UASS applications. NAAA’s UASS Committee consists of a number of pesticide manufacturer representatives that also serve in the UAPASTF. It is the hope that UAPASTF will allow for UASS applications to be modeled properly for risk assessments. This will help ensure UASS applications are as well tested, modeled, safe and accurate as those from manned/crewed ag aircraft and that label language can provide spray system setup and operation guidelines and drift mitigations specific to UASS.
Air Tractor Returns to 2025 Farm Progress Show, Operators Welcome!
Air Tractor will return to the Farm Progress Show for the second consecutive year, taking place August 26–28, 2025, in Decatur, Illinois. As one of the largest agricultural trade shows in the country, Farm Progress Show offers an interactive platform for farmers to connect with a broad range of exhibitors. The event regularly attracts between 150,000 and 200,000 attendees from both the U.S. and abroad.
Chris Lockhart, Sales Coordinator at Air Tractor, expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s return. Lockhart emphasized that the booth serves a larger purpose beyond showcasing Air Tractor equipment. Their goal is to promote aerial application and improve public understanding about the importance of the industry. Air Tractor encourages any operators to stop by the booth and engage with attendees to help share the value of aerial application.
“We’re looking forward to another great experience,” Lockhart said. Visitors to the booth can expect to see an AT-802 on display, equipped with Capstan SwathPro booms.
Also featured at the booth will be a unique demonstration by NAAA allied member, Joe Curless of Farm Air, Inc. in Astoria, IL. Curless’ display showcases a cover crop application simulation, utilizing a Transland 7.5” electric gate paired with a Satloc Falcon guidance system, mounted on a stand with an Air Tractor hopper. The display visually represents how cover crops are applied aerially in real-world conditions.
In 2024, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people visited the Air Tractor booth over the course of the three-day show. Building on that momentum, Air Tractor is ready to make an even bigger industry-wide impact in 2025.
Prayers for Pilots Hosting an Ag Pilot Appreciation Dinner on Sept. 20
In April of this year, Brett Morgan of Oak Grove, Louisiana, turned personal pain into a purpose-driven mission with the launch of the social media page Prayers for Pilots, an initiative born from a deep love for agricultural aviation and a desire to honor a family legacy that runs generations deep.
It was on April 18, 2016, that tragedy struck Morgan’s family. Her uncle, Danny Morgan, passed away while spraying, a moment that changed her life forever.
In the years following Danny’s passing, Morgan found herself offering silent prayers whenever she saw an ag plane flying overhead, which was a small, personal tribute to her uncle and the countless other pilots who face risks every day in the air.
But this year, on April 19, something shifted. “For the first time, I forgot the anniversary of his death. That realization hit me hard. I knew I had to do something — not just to remember him, but to support other families like ours.” That moment sparked the beginning of Prayers for Pilots, a heartfelt social media movement highlighting the power of prayer, which quickly resonated with agricultural aviation supporters across the country.
Morgan shared that she grew up just across the street from the airport, spending every afternoon after school at her grandfather Bobby Morgan’s previous business, Pioneer Flying Service. It was a true family operation—her uncle flew as an ag pilot, while her dad worked on the ground as a loader.
To bring that community even closer together, Morgan is organizing the first-ever Ag Pilot Appreciation Dinner for pilots and their families, set to take place on September 20 at Kelly-Dumas Airport in Oak Grove, LA, where pilots can fly in. The dinner is a chance for pilots and their families to gather, share stories, and lift each other up. Morgan hopes to make the dinner an annual tradition, one that grows in both attendance and impact, and perhaps expands to new locations in the years to come.
Questions about the dinner can be directed to Brett Morgan at 318-417-5469 or Prayersforpilots@gmail.com. Please RSVP here.
NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Registration Now Open
We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo in Reno, Nevada, Nov. 17-19. Attendee registration is now open for the annual convention. Exhibitors can purchase booth space here.
NAAA’s registration system will allow you to register and pay for all events at one time, including:
- Ag Aviation Expo registration for yourself, your spouse, children and other employees in your company.
- Saturday, Nov. 15 – Flying in the Wire & Obstruction Environment and Turning an Ag Plane Safely Courses (free, but registration is required)
- Sunday, Nov. 16 – Betting for PAASS: Casino Night NAAREF Fundraiser
- Monday, Nov. 17 – Support Committee’s ‘Sip, Savor and Socialize’ Food & Wine Tasting (capped at 100 participants)
Besides great programming, you’ll enjoy a vibrant city offering a mix of gaming, great food, drinks, and adventure in Reno, where high desert charm meets high-energy entertainment. Reno offers a lively mid-town area packed with local breweries and bars, unique eateries and year-round festivals. Explore the Riverwalk District, try your luck at iconic casinos, or take a short drive to the breathtaking landscapes of Lake Tahoe. Reno delivers a perfect blend of culture, fun and unforgettable Western spirit.
Whether you’re an industry veteran or a low-time or no-time ag pilot, the Ag Aviation Expo promises to deliver invaluable insights, the latest technological advancements, and a chance to connect with peers from across the nation and the world. Join us in Reno for an unforgettable experience that will help you soar to new heights in your ag aviation journey.
Ag Aviation Expo Details
- Dates: Nov. 17-19
- Schedule of Events here
- NAAA Hotel Room Block: Open
- Attendee Registration Open
- Exhibit Booth Sales: Open
- Sponsorship Opportunities here. We have sponsorships available for all budget sizes.
- Auction Donations: Please consider donating to 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.
- Never been to Reno? Learn more here.
- Flying Into Reno: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) has eleven airlines providing more than 120 daily departures and arrivals. Learn about travel here.
In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter
Click here for the August 14, 2025 eNewsletter to read:
- NAAA Press Release on Cover Crops Garners Media Coverage; Cover Crops Press Release Template Available for Members to Send to Local Media
- FAA Released Proposed Rule for Drone BVLOS Operations – 14 CFR Part 108 – at Crewed Aircraft’s Peril
- NAAA Ag Aviation Expo Attendee Registration Now Open
- NAAA Offering Three Scholarship Programs in 2025; Deadline Approaching Quickly
- Superseding AD Proposed for Lycoming Oil Inspections and Connecting Rod Bushings