How to Dust Crops
Dusting crops, or aerial application, is essential to our country's agricultural system. Crop dusting involves commercial pilots distributing substances over farmland, orchards, vineyards and other agriculture production sites. These substances are usually fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides, which help prevent disease in the plants, ultimately resulting in a healthy crop.
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Things You'll Need
- Commercial pilot's license
- Release machinery (aircraft with aerial application capabilities)
Instructions
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1
Instruct your loading crew to fill the aircraft's tank with the fertilizer, pesticide or whatever substance is being distributed.
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2
Start the aircraft and let it warm up.
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3
Take off, flying the aircraft over the farmland or other commercial agricultural site.
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4
Release the chemical, using controls within the aircraft control panel. Make sure to spread the chemical evenly and uniformly across the crops.
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Fly low during the aerial application, in order to minimize chemical drift. In most cases, you should fly 10 to 12 feet above the crop that is being dusted.
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Tips & Warnings
If it is hot where you live, consider talking with the crop owner about doing the aerial application during dusk or dawn, when there is still some light, and it is not so hot that the insects or pests dive deep into the crop canopy.
Because of the dangerous nature of this job-flying low to the ground and dealing with chemicals, safety is of the utmost importance. Always follow safety regulations and procedures.
