Republican-Clipper photo
Three crop dusters from aerial spray services based in Lamoni and Chillicothe spent Friday planting a cover crop on 800 acres of John Meekās farm near Ridgeway. Meek said this is an increasingly common practice for farmers in the area. The planes spent the day shuttling seed from the Roy Broyles Memorial Airport to Meekās farm. The cover crop consisted of rye, oats, rape seed, turnips and carrots. āIt protects the soil from erosion in between crops,ā Meek explained. Cattle particularly like the turnips and carrots which loosen the soil. The planes were flown by Bob Penistonās Precision Ag Air company in Chillicothe and Stardust Ag Aviation in Lamoni managed by Dana Massey. Others pictured above were Colton Oakes, Arlena Money, Harley Dickesen, Andy Buckler and Chase Emmons.