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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] crop dusting

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  • From: Road's End Farm <organic87 AT frontiernet.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] crop dusting
  • Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 22:42:57 -0400


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

<x-tad-smaller>thanks all</x-tad-smaller>
 
<x-tad-smaller>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</x-tad-smaller>
 
<x-tad-smaller>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.</x-tad-smaller>
 
<x-tad-smaller>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)</x-tad-smaller>
 
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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