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NAAA Targets Hundreds of Thousands of Nationwide Ag Retailers & Farmers with 2024 Articles and Ad Buys in Farm Journal’s The Scoop and Other Publications

One of NAAA’s priorities for 2024 is augmenting its focus on external communications in largely circulated ag publications touting the benefits of aerial application and hiring ag pilots to handle spraying work. This year, NAAA is contributing articles, in addition to continuing ads throughout Farm Journal’s publications promoting aerial application services and how their readers can directly search the location of your aerial application business as an NAAA member, to a potential circulation of 150,000 ag retailers, crop consultants and farmers throughout the U.S. Sign up for a free copy of The Scoop’s magazine and eNewsletter.

Last week, NAAA’s first article, titled “Precision Technology Advancements in Aerial Application,” appeared in The Daily Scoop eNewsletter, and the article will also be published in The Scoop’s February 2024 Magazine edition and possibly many other Farm Journal publications. The Scoop delivers business solutions to 20,000 farmer advisers, including agricultural retailers/dealers, independent crop consultants, custom applicators, professional farm managers, extension services, and fertilizer, pesticide, seed, and equipment manufacturers. The article promotes how precision aerial application is by far the fastest, most versatile, and economical way to aid farmers in producing greater crop yields. Along with the print article, an NAAA advertisement titled “Aerial Application: Above All Other Forms of Care” (pictured right) will be featured about the benefits of aerial application.

The article and advertisements direct readers to visit NAAA’s Find an Aerial Applicator database, where they can search for NAAA Member Operators near them. To ensure your information is up to date, you can log in to AgAviation.org and, once logged in, you can update your listing with a logo, edit your listing or opt-out of the database. Operator, affiliated operator, and lifetime operator members are free to opt-out or opt back in at any time. If you need assistance with updating your information, please contact the NAAA office at (202) 546-5722 or information@agaviation.org. 

NAAA has been promoting aerial application services through national ads in agricultural trade media for many years, dating back to 2017. Last year, NAAA advertised in the AgWebAM, the CropLife News newsletter and The Daily Scoop. In earlier years, the “Above All Other Forms of Crop Care” ad campaign appeared in The Scoop, AgPro, CropLife magazine and Farm Journal magazine. 
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New National Association for Drone Application Pilots Established

NAAA has been informed that a new association for drone applicator pilots has been established called the Unmanned Pilots Association for Safety and Standards (U.PASS). Learn more at https://www.upass.foundation/. 

The association’s website states that U.PASS recognizes the importance of safe and responsible drone operation in the agriculture industry, and they plan to offer educational programs tailored to state-specific best practices and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
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Renew Your 2024 Membership Today; Grace Period Ends Feb. 15

If you have not renewed your NAAA membership for 2024, the grace period ends on Feb. 15! We urgently request your continued support by renewing your NAAA membership for 2024. 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. 

This year, NAAA is focusing on external communications to farmers in largely circulated ag publications touting the benefits of aerial application and hiring ag pilots to handle spraying work. NAAA is contributing articles and ads throughout 2024 in Farm Journal’s publications promoting aerial application services and how their readers can directly search the location of your aerial application business to a potential circulation of 150,000 ag retailer, crop consultants and farmers throughout the U.S.! Read our first article here. Sign up for a free issue of The Daily Scoop here and subscribe to The Scoop magazine here. 

Several of NAAA’s services conducted on your behalf, include: 

  • The second year of C-PAASS, our professional certification program for aerial applicators that take additional steps to augment their professionalism through education and testing, positioning themselves to be recognized and rewarded by their insurance providers, pesticide manufacturers, and customers. Learn more at https://education.agaviation.org/. 
  • Submitting no fewer than 270 comments since 2017 to the EPA to keep aerial applications on pesticide labels enabling you to keep a deep inventory of pesticide tools without unnecessary and burdensome restrictions.
  • Development of a health care insurance policy in 2024 for NAAA members to purchase for their families and employees at competitive rates.

Supporting NAAA as a member helps provide NAAA with more resources so that we can in turn provide you with more and more membership assets. Continued benefits in 2024 to members include legal consultation on federal aviation laws, discounts for attending or exhibiting at the Ag Aviation Expo, staying connected to members through the print and online NAAA Membership Directory and receiving NAAA publications and eNewsletters, social media briefings and substantive web content at AgAviation.org. 

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 affecting your aerial application business and trade association membership dues are tax deductible. If you prefer to pay over the phone, please call (202) 546-5722.
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EPA Gives Another Update on Chlorpyrifos – It Is Now Legal to Spray on All Labeled Crops

As NAAA reported at the end of last year, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated EPA’s 2021 ban on the use of chlorpyrifos on all food or feed crops. Last week, EPA provided another announcement – since the courts mandate has been officially issued, the tolerances for chlorpyrifos have been reinstated. This means that chlorpyrifos can now be legally sprayed on all crops for which it was legal on before the ban. EPA cautions that individual states may have their own rules relating to chlorpyrifos, and this ruling will not impact those state laws. 

The remainder of last week’s announcement is similar to the December announcement. EPA will begin moving forward working on an amended proposed interim decision (PID) that limits chlorpyrifos to 11 crops: alfalfa, apple, asparagus, cherry (tart), citrus, cotton, peach, soybean, strawberry, sugar beet, spring wheat, and winter wheat. NAAA is already working on making sure aerial application is on the label for all of those crops and is in communication with grower groups and registrants to see if expanding the list of allowable crops beyond the 11 is possible. NAAA has learned EPA anticipates releasing the amended chlorpyrifos PID in early 2025, which strongly suggests there will be no changes to chlorpyrifos registration during 2024.

Because some registrants canceled their chlorpyrifos products after the ban, NAAA advises aerial applicators to verify the current registration status of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos at EPA’s Pesticide Product and Label System or look for the product on the chlorpyrifos cancelation order. Keep watching NAAA’s eNews and other communications for updates on chlorpyrifos and other pesticides. 
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NAAA Survey to Assess Health & Life Insurance Needs of Industry

NAAA works continuously to identify opportunities that enhance the benefits available to our members. Over the past few years, we’ve received requests for access to more affordable, quality health and life insurance plans than what the aerial application operators and ag pilots in our industry may currently have access to. Therefore, NAAA is currently exploring the possibility of offering health and life insurance benefits for our membership. Your input is helpful in identifying these opportunities.

Take this short survey to help us assess the potential of this benefit and your interest. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete. Results will be used only to gauge the interest in health benefits and other insurance and financial solutions to members, and will not be shared outside the organization or used for selling purposes.

NAAA is exploring a partnership with Decisely, an online, integrated benefits and HR solutions company that sources and administers benefits including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, and more. This partnership can deliver health solutions, pricing, and support options to provide more cost-effective solutions for the aerial application industry. 

Please participate in this important survey no later than February 17, 2024 so we get a true picture of insurance needs for our membership. If you have any questions, please contact Deana Kissinger by email or phone at (202) 546-5722.

Take the survey by clicking here.
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NAAA & NAAREF Board Meetings Feb. 15-17 in Alexandria, VA

The February 2024 NAAA & NAAREF Board and Committee meetings will take place next week, Feb. 15-17 in Alexandria, Virginia. Click here to view a schedule.

All meetings are open to NAAA members. If you are not a board or committee member but are interested in attending, please contact Lindsay Barber for more details.

Hotel Details
Hilton Old Town Alexandria
1767 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

The Hilton Old Town is located directly next to the King Street Metro stop (take either the Blue or Yellow Line), which is the second stop south of Reagan National Airport (DCA). If you don’t want to take a cab, Lyft or Uber, you can use the Metro and there is now an app that you can download to pay directly from your smartphone. You can view a map of the metro system here.

The room block is closed. Contact Lauren Henretty with hotel questions.

Board Books: The Board book was provided to board and committee members on Feb. 5. If you did not receive it, please contact Lindsay Barber for a link. 
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Deadline Today to Update Your Information for 2024 Membership Directory

The deadline to provide any corrections to your membership listing is today. Please review your listing and provide any changes to guarantee accurate inclusion in the 2024 NAAA Membership Directory.

Have you moved or changed employers since you renewed your NAAA membership? Allied companies, have you reviewed your company description lately? Ensure your listing in the 2024 NAAA Membership Directory is correct by logging into your account. If any information has changed, please let us know right away. 

You can provide your information by:

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