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- NAAA Submits Comments to EPA in Support of Aerial Application for Two Herbicides
- Leif Isaacson Honored with Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
- NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 12-14 in Alexandria, VA, All Members Invited
- Give the Gift of Aerial Application: Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application Book
- Renew Your 2026 NAAA Membership Today
- NAAA Offers Healthcare Options to NAAA Members
NAAA Submits Comments to EPA in Support of Aerial Application for Two Herbicides
NAAA recently submitted comments to the EPA for two different herbicides. The first was directed towards the registration of epyrifenacil, a new herbicide for use as a pre-plant burndown herbicide for agricultural use in canola, field corn, soybean, wheat, and fallow land. It will also be labeled for some non-crop sites, including guardrails, railroads, parking areas, road surfaces and shoulders. Aerial application of epyrifenacil on non-crop sites will be prohibited; NAAA did not object to this non-crop prohibition as none of these use sites are typically applied to with ag aircraft.
NAAA agreed with most of the proposed mitigations for aerial applications of epyrifenacil including droplet size, boom length restrictions, maximum wind speed, swath displacements, wind measurement, release height, buffer zones for unmanaged areas, and the use of EPA’s online mitigation menu to reduce buffer distance. NAAA objected to the vague statement “When applying to crops via aerial application equipment, the spray boom must be mounted on the aircraft to minimize drift caused by wing tip or rotor blade vortices.” NAAA requested a discussion with EPA to determine exactly what EPA intends with this statement. NAAA also objected to the proposed minimum spray application rate of seven gallons per acre (GPA). NAAA detailed how increasing GPA with straight steam nozzles can increase the risk of drift. Click here to read NAAA’s full comments on epyrifenacil.
The second herbicide NAAA commented on was atrazine. At the end of September, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released their draft biological opinions (BiOp) for atrazine and simazine. Biological opinions are the final stage of the consultation between EPA and FWS regarding endangered species protection before finalizing a pesticide’s re-registration. Since aerial application of simazine is already prohibited, NAAA focused on atrazine. The atrazine BiOp used the herbicide strategy to develop mitigations for aerial applications of atrazine to protect endangered species. NAAA agreed with almost all proposed mitigations, including droplet size, boom length restrictions, maximum wind speed, swath displacements, release height, and downwind buffer zones for protected areas. NAAA did object to the prohibition of aerial application for all dry formulations of atrazine; this prohibition is due to human exposure risks for mixers and loaders and is unlikely to be changed. Click here to read NAAA’s full comments on atrazine.
Leif Isaacson Honored with Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
NAAA 2014 President, Leif Isaacson, was honored with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award is FAA’s highest honor for pilots certified under the Code of Federal Regulations, which recognizes individuals with 50 or more years of safe piloting experience.
A lifelong aviator whose passion began in childhood, Isaacson soloed at 16, earned his private pilot’s license at 17, and went on to build an extensive list of ratings spanning airplanes, helicopters, seaplanes, gyroplanes, aerobatic aircraft, and flight instruction. After launching his agricultural aviation career in the 1970s, he founded Desert Air Ag in Terreton, Idaho, growing it from a single biplane operation into one of southeastern Idaho’s largest aerial application businesses.
Isaacson has also been a respected industry leader through his work with the Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association and NAAA, serving as NAAA president in 2014 and advocating for pilot safety, including efforts to reduce collisions with towers and drones. In addition to presenting for the PAASS safety program, contributing to Operation S.A.F.E.’s Compaass Rose mentoring initiative, and serving on the NAAREF board, he has shown an equally strong dedication to community engagement and inspiring future aviators. Even in retirement, he continues to fly and mentor others, embodying the spirit and professionalism the Master Pilot Award celebrates.
The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is named in honor of Orville and Wilbur Wright, two American aviation pioneers credited with inventing, building, and flying the world’s first successful motor-operated airplane. The Wright brothers made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft with the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, NC. The brothers were also the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. For more information on the award, click here.
NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 12-14 in Alexandria, VA, All Members Invited
The February 2026 NAAA & NAAREF Board and Committee meetings will take place at the Hilton Old Town in Alexandria, VA. Click here to view a schedule of meetings. All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you are not a board or committee member but you’re interested in attending, please contact Lindsay Barber for more details.
Meeting Location
Hilton Old Town Alexandria
1767 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
- Rate: $172/night plus tax.
- Room Block Closes: January 20, 2026. Room rates will be higher after block closes, and we cannot guarantee rooms will be available after this date.
- Reservations:
- To book online: https://group.hilton.com/te94ah
- Call 1-800-HILTONS and refer to group/SRP code is 90O (that is 9 zero and the letter O)
- If you have hotel questions or issues, do not book outside the block. Please email Lindsay Barber your arrival and departure dates.
Board Books: All board books are provided electronically. Board and Committee members will receive a link and directions to download the electronic board book approximately one week before the meetings. The board book can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or you can print your committee items.
PAC Breakfast: Join us on Friday morning, Feb. 13th, at 7 a.m. at the Hilton Old Town for the AgAv PAC Breakfast. Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) has been invited to speak. Further details will be sent in early 2026.
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Give the Gift of Aerial Application: Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application Book
Agriculture’s Air Force: 100 Years of Aerial Application, the industry’s 100th-anniversary book, is a great gift for aviation enthusiasts and those who want to learn more about a century of technological evolution protecting farms, forests, and public health by aircraft.
The hard-copy book chronicles the agricultural aviation industry’s growth from its birth in 1921 through the boom times after World War II, and on to today’s modern era of high-tech aerial application, containing 268 pages of historical information, personal stories, and photos. This comprehensive book takes readers on a captivating flight through history, technology, and into the intersection of agriculture and aviation that is aerial application. If you haven’t ordered a book yet, it will make a great gift under the Christmas tree. Also, consider gifting a copy to your local library or school library for future generations to learn about the industry. Order your copy today here.
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Renew Your 2026 NAAA Membership Today
Thank you for your support as a 2025 member of NAAA. We request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2026 today. While you have been busy aiding farmers to produce a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food, fiber, and bioenergy, NAAA has been busy making sure low-altitude airspace is safe for your aerial application business to operate, as well as ensuring that you have the pesticide products you need to do your job. Several of NAAA’s accomplishments this year, on your behalf and to ensure your success, include:
- NAAA continues to lobby the FAA to include NAAA language ensuring the safety of manned aircraft from drones operating beyond visual line of sight. In response to FAA’s proposed rule on the topic, NAAA will provide evidence-based comments to the FAA defending crewed aircraft’s right-of-way over drones in all circumstances.
- NAAA has defended the use of ensuring sound scientific methods and application practices in the registration and use of pesticides to key administration officials of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission via hands-on field demonstrations, White House meetings and comprehensive comments to MAHA officials.
- Since 2017, NAAA has submitted over 300 comments to the EPA to keep aerial application use on pesticide labels with great success, enabling you to keep a deep inventory of pesticide tools without unnecessary and burdensome restrictions.
- NAAA released an aerial applicator’s Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) to enhance agricultural aviation safety.
- NAAA has urged the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to leave aircraft engines and related ag aviation parts free of tariffs.
- NAAA and NAAREF have grown the online education center, which includes educational videos and C-PAASS certification for aerial applicators who want to augment their safety and professionalism and be recognized and rewarded by their insurance providers, pesticide manufacturers, regulators, and customers. Learn more at education.agaviation.org.
- NAAA offers health and life insurance options for members. Visit agaviation.org/membership for details.
In 2026, your NAAA membership will continue to provide valuable benefits that support your business and that have protected the industry for nearly 60 years. Receive discounts for attending or exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo; access to the NAAA Membership Directory in both print and online formats to connect with fellow members; and stay informed through our publications, eNewsletters, social media updates, and in-depth online content at AgAviation.org. To renew, log in to your account at AgAviation.org and pay your 2026 membership invoice. Please make it a priority to renew your NAAA membership—the payoff far exceeds what you will spend in dues in the form of effective advocacy that reduces regulation and taxes and user fees affecting your aerial application business and trade association membership dues are tax deductible.
NAAA Offers Healthcare Options to NAAA Members
Rising health insurance premiums have become a significant concern for both individuals and employers across the country. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits are set to expire, which could lead to significantly higher premiums and healthcare costs. NAAA offers members the opportunity to work with Decisely on health insurance options. As the ACA tax credits expire, we recommend pricing Decisely’s options—even if you already have in the past—because they may offer more competitive rates under these latest circumstances.
NAAA partnered with the large insurance broker last year to offer insurance options to NAAA members. Whether you’re looking for health insurance for yourself and/or your employees, we’ve got you covered. The NAAA Benefits Center program provides comprehensive plans for both individuals and employers, regardless of group size, with guaranteed coverage for all participants.
This program guarantees coverage for all participants, with no health questions asked, resulting in no exclusion for pre-existing conditions. The NAAA Benefits Center offers financial and medical stability, ensuring peace of mind for those seeking reliable and affordable health insurance.
Now is the time to consider your health benefits renewal! Take control of your healthcare expenses today and learn more at NAAA Benefits Center. You may also access the NAAA Health Care plan from the membership tab at AgAviation.org and then click Health Insurance Benefits.
In Case You Missed Last Week’s NAAA eNewsletter
Click here for the December 4, 2025 eNewsletter to read:
- Farmers’ Perceptions of Agricultural Drones Presented at the Ag Aviation Expo
- EPA Proposed Rule Defining Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Confines Regulatory Reach as Dictated by Supreme Court
- How Would You Rate the 2025 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo? Please Tell Us by Dec. 5!
- Reno Reflections: Photo Highlights From the 2025 Expo, Check ‘em Out
- Give Back! Support NAAREF Today
- DynaNav and Microair Avionics Announce New Integrated Digital Air-Data Solution for Agricultural Aviation
- Superseding AD Proposed for AStar MGB Particle Inspections