By Kathryn Seebruck and N. Dennis Bowman
One of the trademarks of summer is the sight of planes and helicopters making gravity-defying turns as they make passes up and down cornfields. While this evokes awe and amazement, it also elicits curiosity as to what they are doing and why. Additionally, when serious or fatal agricultural aviation accidents make local news headlines, they raise concerns about the safety of these practices and prompt questions about possible alternatives.
In mid- to late-July, field corn reaches its reproductive stage of growth, marked by the emergence of tassels at the top of each plant.