Crop dusting 
and wind turbines

A recent Letter to the Editor has just been brought to my attention. It was written by a Mr. Larry Leffelman and contains an inaccuracy that should be addressed. Mr. Leffelman was responding to an article regarding wind farms. I take exception to his statement, “Regarding the crop dusting, flying contractors have no problem with them.” That is not true.

The Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association represents the aerial application industry in Illinois and has passed a resolution which states, in part, that wind turbine farms “... create uniquely hazardous and unacceptable dangers ...” The entire text of the resolution can be viewed at our Web site. The truth of the matter is that some companies agree to work within the footprint of a wind farm, and some companies refuse to do so. Those that do fly there charge a premium to the farmers.

The position of the IAAA is straightforward. The wind developers have a responsibility to acknowledge and present the fact that some farms will no longer be accessible from the air, and others will have a percentage of the acreage rendered untreatable. Also, that higher application costs can be anticipated, due to the decrease in efficiency of the aircraft working amongst the obstacles. Our association is working with cooperating wind developers to minimize this impact of wind turbines, but we can’t ever guarantee no impact.

Rick Reed, president, Illinois Ag Aviation Association

Mattoon