[Market-farming] crop dusting

Road's End Farm organic87 at frontiernet.net
Tue May 5 22:42:57 EDT 2009


On May 5, 2009, at 10:04 PM, David Guthrie wrote:

> thanks all
>  
> this just happened this evening and i calmed down a bit so i realize 
> it's probably a non issue since this is conventional farm country
>  
> what was irritating was the crop duster plane was flying under 
> electric wires and literally a few feet off the ground directly at the 
> front door of my home when he could have covered the field from east 
> to west and not n to s.
>  
> i hadn't thought about the state agencies and will keep it in mind. . 
> .talking to the farmer would not be productive (i don't think)
>  
It is certainly not a non-issue if you are certified organic as you 
will lose your certification. In fact, even if you come under the 5K 
exemption, you shouldn't sell anything you know has been sprayed as 
organic. This affects your markets economically, and your reputation. 
Depending on what you are growing and what they are spraying, it could 
also seriously damage your crop.

I would try talking to the farmer, and/or to the dusting service. Make 
sure you can be calm while you do it! Try explaining the issues and why 
it matters to you; as well as making it clear you're not expecting them 
to stop spraying altogether, but just asking them to change the spray 
pattern so that they don't hit your place.

If that doesn't work, yes, it is illegal. Go out and get samples if you 
can, as soon as possible; I think the state might need proof in that 
form -- better call them in the morning and ask what they need and in 
what form, just in case you're going to pursue that route. But I would 
talk to the neighbor before actually calling in the state; once you've 
called the cops on him/her, he/she will definitely be angry, while if 
you try asking politely first there's at least a small chance that 
you'll make headway.

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale
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