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NEW
COLORADO STATE
SALES OF 2.9% ON PESTICIDES WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM MARCH 1, 201O UNTIL
JUNE 30, 2013. For the full House Bill
click here
FAA requires paper
licenses to be replaced by plastic by March 2010...see
"CAAA News" page.
CAAA’s
mission statement: To provide the agricultural community with the highest
standards of professionalism, quality and safety and to maintain an
environmental stewardship of the land that feeds our great nation.
This website is designed to provide information on the Colorado
Agriculture Aviation Association and its members. It will also be used to
promote allied industries and announce upcoming events and current events
in Colorado and across the nation.
About
Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association:
Colorado Agriculture Aviation Association (CAAA) was founded in the early
70’s to provide the Colorado agricultural aviation professionals an
opportunity for learning more about their industry within the state of
Colorado. During that time, it was determined that the agricultural
community needed a forum wherein they could keep informed of state and
national industry news, develop industry standards and establish
relationships with others in the industry.
Myths about the industry:
An airplane has no control over the area that’s being “dusted.”
Let’s talk old time crop dusting vs. aerial application; There’s a big
difference. When crop dusting began in 1921, it was conducted by the
military to save crops and feed people in the Dust Bowl during the Great
Depression. It was a new industry with very few regulations. Crops were
treated by air with products that came in a “dust” form, thus the title,
Crop Duster. Ongoing research and testing provided new products; and
dusting was replaced by liquid pesticides. Those pesticides became more
user-friendly and less intrusive on the environment. Today the pesticides
are pest specific and site specific. Many of them are derivatives of the
environment and usage has become minimal. For example, the amount of
pesticide needed to protect a tomato is less than the size of a raindrop.
Aerial application of pesticides is harming our land and forests.
Agricultural aviation plays a vital and in many cases, an irreplaceable
role in protecting crops, pasture and forest land from damaging insects,
weeds and plant disease. Aerial application is also an important means of
fighting forest and brush fires and providing control of insect pests in
many urban and suburban environments.
Spraying pesticides on our crops is causing disease in humans and
animals.
Aerial application is an important component in the production of food and
fiber. Pesticides do not affect the plants; they eradicate the bugs that
destroy the plants. Crop protection products distributed through aerial
application are essential tools in the American farmer’s ability to
produce the safest, highest quality, most abundant and lowest cost food
supply in the world.
Crop dusters are nothing but flying stuntmen.
Aerial applicators are well-trained professionals with a serious awareness
of their responsibility to protect the safety of their neighbors,
employees, the public and the environment.
Sprayers are not responsible people and are unaware of the effects of
their actions.
Pilot/operators are very proactive in protecting their aircraft and
products against theft. They’ve developed methods that increase vigilance;
they continue to adopt new security measures; and they work with
authorities to ensure that the agriculture aviation industry does not
represent a security risk to the American public.
All operators are licensed commercial applicators and must comply with the
requirements mandated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. In order
to stay current, operators
must complete a minimum of 80 hours a year in
continuing education. |
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