America’s farmers and ranchers use General Aviation (GA) to support many of their basic, day-to-day agricultural and livestock operations. Both rely heavily on the weather, so farmers use the same weather reporting and forecasting infrastructure that serves pilots.

America’s crop yields would drop by 50 percent without the routine agricultural use of GA. Without GA’s benefits to farmers, millions of acres of additional grasslands and forests would have to be turned to farmland, meaning the loss of much-needed habitat for wildlife and migratory birds.

Aerial Planting, Fertilization, and Crop Dusting

Airplanes and helicopters built for agricultural use are used to replant and reseed fields and forests. For example, rice and rye grass seed can be planted from the air.

America’s farmers also apply fertilizer from the air, allowing them to treat vast areas in response to changes in weather and soil conditions.

Today, farmers use specialized agricultural airplanes with satellite navigation systems that are augmented by local site surveys of their fields to show exactly what areas must be treated.

These modern "ag sprayers" have GPS navigation linked to their sprayer systems to trigger the opening and closing of valves at the exact spots designated by the local field survey.

These GPS-coupled spraying systems can place products within a few inches of the intended start-stop points to minimize drift or overspray. As a result, farmers can place precisely measured amounts of pest- and disease-control products where they’re needed, which protects crops and the environment and saves money.

Product Distribution

Some farm products can fetch a premium at market if they’re the first to be sold. That means that they must be accessible to a large population.

Some farmers use their aircraft to take these high-value crops to town, where they can earn more for the same goods. Farmers’ success depends on where or when they sell their products.

Land and Water Management

There’s nothing better than a bird’s-eye view of your land to see how things are progressing as you prepare for the new growing season.

Once crops are planted, an aerial survey will help to identify areas that are getting too much water or that need more irrigation.

Farmers also can spot the earliest signs of insect damage or erosion that, at ground level, might go unnoticed.

Finding breaks in the fence around a half-million acre ranch is easier and less time consuming from the air. The search might take one day or less from an airplane, but multiple days driving around the property.

Animal Feeding and Rescue

Early-winter storms in the mountains can cover grazing lands and prevent valuable livestock from reaching their feeding pens. To save these animals, ranchers use airborne food drops of nutritionally supplemented hay bales or feed until Mother Nature subsides.

If an animal is sick or injured, farmers and ranchers can fly in with the local vet to administer aid. If needed, the animal can be evacuated for more comprehensive treatment.

Farmers and pilots both rely heavily on the weather. As a result, farmers use the same weather reporting and forecasting infrastructure that’s been built to serve America’s pilots.

Fishing

What does flying have to do with fishing? Lots.

Aerial fish spotting helps commercial and recreational fishermen find most of the fish that people eat. These fish spotters even help whale-watching boats find whales. Seasonal aerial surveillance restocks ponds and lakes. But so much more is involved: aerial surveying and charting of fishing areas, search and rescue of those who fish, anti-poaching surveillance, law enforcement, pollution prevention, and control flights.

Your Personal use of GA

The next time you buy fruits or vegetables, remember that GA pilots are the ones who treat and protect crops from disease. And the next time you slice into a filet of fish, remember the role of GA pilots in fishing.