Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District Aerial Cover Crops Seeding

Aerial seeding is scheduled for the week of August 23-28, 2010, weather depending. Cover crops reduce soil erosion by having a growing crop over winter. Although oats die during the coldest part of winter, the roots and residue will continue to hold soil in place. In addition, the cover crop adds nutrients and improves soil structure.
About the program:
 Pilot Butch Fisher of Fisher’s Ag Service (based in Cardington, Ohio) is dropping either oats or rye seed.
There are no chemicals at all involved in the seeding process.
 Fisher Ag Service does crop dusting and aerial seeding on thousands of acres each year and Butch has
35 years of flying experience.
 He is flying an Air Tractor, which is designed specifically for agricultural spraying and seeding. The pilot is using aerial maps and GPS to target the correct fields for application. He makes several passes over
the field to insure good coverage. He has to fly wide over the field ends to get turned around. Because of the many houses in our county, it’s almost impossible for him to not fly over houses and barns in the process. He is not reckless, it’s necessary to fly low to the ground to get good seed coverage.
 Fisher Ag Service is flying out of the Holmes County Airport and it will take probably three to five days to cover the 2000 acres or so of cover crops coordinated through the SWCD program. The pilot flies from dusk until dawn, if visibility allows.
 Call the SWCD office at 330-674-2811 if you have any questions.