JOANIE STIERS/The Register-MailCrop dusters are busier than usual because farmers have planted a record amount of corn this year in response to market demand. In addition, the use of fungicides last year proved beneficial to yields, prompting more farmers to use them this year.
Planes dusting crops for disease
Crop dusters deliver agrichemicals to corn crops
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
GALESBURG - Airplanes buzzing corn fields are adding an element of interest to the skyline for rural residents and country drivers.Agricultural aviators who specialize in agrichemical application from planes are busier than usual this year as more farmers want disease-fighting agrichemicals applied to the corn crop, which is the largest acreage planted in six decades.
This aerial application season is among the busiest for Garrett Lindell's 12 years in business. Lindell is owner and operator of Lindell Aerial Ag Service in Aledo and covers an area within a 70-mile radius of the business' home. July and August are his busiest months. Right now, he said he is working up to 18-hour days and applies agrichemicals from sunup to sundown.
Sales of disease-fighting fungicides are up 35 to 40 percent at the Crop Production Service facility in Oneida, said Adam Steinbauer, crop consultant with the company.
"The main reason is the corn on corn acres and the weather pattern we've had in the last couple weeks," he said. "Both of those factors combined point to a heavy pressure of diseases and that's what we're spraying for."
Fungicides, which help fight plant disease, have a proven yield benefit of 10 to 40 bushels per acre in corn, Steinbauer said. That means more income for the farmer and the agribusinesses providing the products and services.
After corn spraying is complete, aerial applicators will move onto soybeans.
"You'll see planes flying around for another month or so," Steinbauer said.
