Workforce Wednesday: Meet an Agricultural Pilot
"Yeah, I wanted to be a pilot, but what we do is almost closer to farming than aviation,” Curt Meister, an agricultural pilot and one of the owners of Reabe Spraying Services said.
Meister began training to be a pilot during high school, earned his commercial pilot license the summer after graduation. He then went on to earn a degree at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. While pursuing his degree, he began working at Reabe Spraying as grounds operation. While doing that, he came to realize that he loved flying, and he decided to become an agricultural pilot. He realized he could live his dream of flying while staying close to home by applying his pilot's license to agricultural practices.
Agricultural pilots apply seeds, chemicals, fertilizers and other dry applications in fields where traditional spray rigs may not be always have access.
“I wish people knew the importance of what we do,” Meister said. “We kind of get a bad rap. A lot of times people see an airplane flying over a field, and they assume the worst-case scenario: that we’re putting out some formulation that might be dangerous or risky. They think we’re spraying something like Black Death, Bubonic Plague or DDT. It’s quite the contrary.”
There is a lot of science, research and data that goes into being an agricultural pilot and the applications that are sprayed, Meister said.
Aerial application is a tool for farmers to get the necessary formulation on the field that is time sensitive, whether cover crop seeds, fertilizer or pest management.
“It just allows us to get out to the field in a very timely manner, especially if there is a rain event where the fields are too wet to get ground rigs out there,” Meister said. “The airplane allows farmers to stay on schedule.”
Weather is a challenge for application practices, with wind being the biggest.
“Once the wind velocity is too strong, we just can’t be spraying,” Meister said. “We risk off-target deposition, which isn’t good. We try to spray very cleanly. So, once it’s too windy, we just have to be done.”
Weather dictates much of the application process. Science and data also has shown that crops like potatoes must have applications done on a seven-day schedule, Meister said.
“We spray seven days a week,” he said. “We have to try to maintain that schedule, and we can’t really afford to get behind.”
Getting behind schedule could mean that applications aren’t done at the most optimal time. Aerial application is just one part of the overall production process.
Aerial application can provide farmers with a benefit, despite some weather patterns, Meister said. Depending on the amount of rain, sometimes fields are too wet to get ground rigs in and out without causing damage to the crops or fields.
“We don’t touch the soil or the crop,” Meister said. “That provides two great benefits to the farmers. We’re not spreading diseases out there, and we’re not creating ruts in the field. It’s just an awesome tool for farmers.”
He said he’s personally a little biased to aerial application, because that’s what his company solely does. Meister said he loves that he can be a pilot but also be so heavily involved in the agricultural process.
“It’s such an important role that we do, producing food for the world,” Meister said. “I find it quite noble and honoring just to do that. The population of the world is always growing, yet our land area is not. Farmers are able to grow so much more now per acre now than they were 50 years ago.”
Science and advancements in agriculture have impressed Meister.
“It’s just awesome what we can accomplish with all the research and science that goes into farming,” Meister said. “It is very data driven. The science on how to produce as much as you can sustainably on one acre is such an awesome challenge to be part of. We’re producing quality food right here in Central Wisconsin, and that’s a story that needs to be put out there.”
Agricultural pilots have anything but average days, Meister said. His day typically begins around 5:30 or 6 a.m. when he arrives at the airport, then he goes through the maps for the day. Afterwards, he can start flying. Meister said he could fly anywhere from four hours to all day, depending on the schedule and workload for the day.
“We have average days, but so many of them are anything but average,” he said. “You have to be prepared for the unexpected. It’s just a fun job being able to fly at the altitudes we are, doing what we’re able to do. It is very rewarding, and it’s fun.”
There are risks involved with being an agricultural pilot and flying at low altitudes.
“People think we’re adrenaline junkies, and part of that could be true, but once you’ve been doing this for a while, you feel very safe doing it,” Meister said. “There are considerable risks in the environment we’re operating in: below 500 feet, working amongst powerlines, roads, traffic, houses, there’s just a lot of challenges. It’s a very dynamic work environment we’re in.”
At the end of the day, the challenges and relationships he’s developed are what Meister loves about his career.
“I love challenge of trying to get this all done,” Meister said. “I’ve really grown to love the relationships with our farmers. They’re all local, and they’re all such great people to be working with. They’re great families. There is so much history in Central Wisconsin in growing produce, and I love being part of that. I love the relationship I have grown and seeing their families grow, and even bringing my kids into it now at the little ages they are.”
What is something that you wish you had known on your first day:
I think having a positive outlook and positive attitude. If you have a negative attitude about work or your career, it’s really hard to get to that next level. Overall, having a positive attitude. You don’t have to go over the top with it, but being vibrant and welcoming can help you out in your job, your career and your place of work.
