Most people don’t appreciate the size and scope of Maryland’s agriculture sector. With over 12,000 farms statewide, the industry has an economic impact of $2.2 billion each year. Split between the Eastern and western shores by the Chesapeake Bay, the agricultural sector is a diverse set of markets dominated by poultry, dairy, corn, soybeans, small grains, nursery and seafood.
However, with increasing competition and globalization, our farms large and small need every tool in their arsenal. One tool many people don’t realize that the agriculture sector relies on is small aircraft. Starting at the end of the harvest up until the freezing period, farmers rely on fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft to aerial seed cover crops. These same aircraft are used throughout the harvest to protect our crops from pests and diseases. For example, one local company buys grain from farms all over the Eastern Shore and relies on general aviation to manage locations across the state and across the country.
While corn and soybeans are considered the cash crops in Maryland, most people do not understand the role that cover crops — like wheat, barley and rye — play in the sustainability and profitability of our farms. During the fall and winter, increased rain can cause erosion and deplete nutrients in the soil. The only way to prevent this is by planting cover crops at the end of the growing season to retain nutrient-rich soil. I cannot emphasize enough how important these cover crops are to production and sustainability. That is where general aviation and local airports come in.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation supports a program that uses aerial seeding to spread cover crops over thousands of acres of farmland. Those cover crops soak up excess nitrates and nutrients that would otherwise runoff during the rainy season. Without general aviation, it would be virtually impossible to cover even a small fraction of our farmland in time to prevent erosion. Without these aircraft and airports, the millions of acres of farmland that cover our state would be bare by the end of each year and farmers would have to start from scratch each spring.
Transportation and aviation, including small aircraft and airports, are crucial to supporting our local farms, and as a result, our economy and local communities. As we move forward and debate important national priorities, including infrastructure, let’s make sure to not forget about the importance of small aircraft and airports.
Colby Ferguson is the government relations director for Maryland Farm Bureau.