The days are not gone where we wake up before the crack of dawn to do the work that we’ve always done.

We’re just doing things differently. Better. And more efficiently. And that benefit drops right into the pocketbooks of the people we serve…

You, and your customers.

For decades aerial application has been a staple in many parts of the U.S., from forests in the West to pastures in the Plains to rice fields in the South. On limited occasions aerial operators have been called to the Midwest as to serve as “emergency services,” extinguishing unexpected insect outbreaks such as spider mites.

But a number of factors have fostered explosive growth in the aerial segment these past few years.

The advent of new corn fungicides designed to be applied at tassel has taken aerial work to a new level, particularly in the Midwest. Plus, advances in flight technology that allow for more timely, efficient, and effective crop protection product applications have made aerial a valuable addition to — and in some cases alternative to — ground approaches.

As resistance to valuable crop protection tools continues to emerge, industry stakeholders are rallying to find ways to combat the problem.

Aerial applicators can indeed lend a hand.

Our crop protection company and Extension contacts said growers should start with a systems approach that includes crop rotation, tillage, variety choice, varied modes of action, local risk evaluation and the like — then understand what aerial can bring to the table. What it can deliver primarily, they say, is prompt, accurate, and efficient control of pests that greatly reduces the development of resistance. If you kill the pest, it can’t become resistant.

Just the physics of aerial application favor a complete kill because products very effectively reach intended tar- gets, says Dr. Gary Fellows, tech service, fungicide, and seed treatment manager with BASF Corp.

He explains that aerial applicators get a very good mixing of spray within the canopy because of the air buffer created un- der the wing. Turbulence there forces spray downward. In fact, Fellows says BASF has done coverage trials that show “very, very good coverage down deep” even into a tight canopy such as in narrow row soybeans.

Timeliness of application is another benefit aerial brings. Growers want to hit pests at the right development stage, for instance, when weeds are short and easier to control instead of when they’re large. With planes, ap- plicators can go in fields any time, especially when pests are vulnerable, says Dr. Scott Bretthauer, pesticide safety Extension specialist with the University of Illinois. They don’t have to wait for soil to dry, as in cases where wet conditions may prohibit a ground rig.