Virginia State Legislation Requiring Aerial Applicators Give Five Day Notice to Beekeepers Defeated Thanks to Ag Aviator Matt Crabbe with NAAA Assistance - National Agricultural Aviation Association

*Virginia aerial applicator addresses his state’s lawmakers urging them to oppose a 5-day notification period prior to being able to make an aerial application.*

Virginia Senate bill 911 was introduced earlier this month by Virginia State Senator Bill Stanley that would require aerial applicators to give a five-day notice of an application for Virginia beekeepers. Aerial applicators would be required to provide the location, date and time, total acreage, ingredients and other information regarding the application to beekeepers within a five-mile radius. Penalties for non-compliance would be $500 for a first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense.

NAAA, working with Virginia state aerial applicator Matt Crabbe, and other national and Virginia agricultural organizations coordinated opposition to the bill emphasizing the importance of aerial application in the state, its professionalism, its speed and unobtrusiveness in treating a crop, and its ability to treat in wet soil conditions when other forms of application can’t treat. The coalition also stated that for any exotic or quick-spreading pest, a five-day notification mandate would be catastrophic for all growers affected by a pest.

On Tuesday of this week the Virgina Senate Agriculture Committee met to consider the bill. Crabbe was there addressing the Committee and speaking in opposition to the bill along with other Virginia organizations including the Virigina Farm Bureau. The result was positive. The full Committee defeated the bill resulting in it not being able to be reintroduced this year. NAAA greatly appreciates Matt Crabbe’s efforts on the industry’s behalf.