Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com
Published - Sunday, June 01, 2008
Airborn assault on gypsy moths
Monroe County residents may have noticed some aerial annoyances on Wednesday.
It wasn’t an infestation of giant mosquitoes, but yellow crop dusters spraying pesticides to stop the spread of the gypsy moth.
Al’s Aerial Spraying, of Michigan, began flying around 5 a.m. on Wednesday out of Bloyer Field in Tomah. Planes flew about 50 feet above the trees at six sites covering about 10,000 acres in Monroe County and two in Richland County. The project involves spraying specified blocks appointed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Monroe, Juneau, Adams, Jackson, Sauk and Columbia counties.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection plans to spray more than 90,000 acres in the western part of the state this year. The invasive species feeds on the leaves of oaks, maples, birch and other trees and shrubs.
The planes will spray Foray 48B, which the state maintains is not harmful to people or animals. It is approved for use in certified organic production by the Organic Materials Review Institute.
The state Department of Natural Resources advises it can cause eye irritation and suggests avoiding direct contact.
People who get the substance on their clothes or skin should wash it off with soap and water, said department spokeswoman Nkauj Vang.
Mike Schiffer, co-owner of Al’s Aerial Spraying, said that Bloyer Field was chosen as a centrally located air strip. Al’s Aerial Spraying uses three Air Tractor airplanes to spray. The next stop for the gypsy moth spraying will be in Neillsville on Friday. A second application on some blocks may be sprayed, weather permitting, on June 4 or 5, Schiffer said.
The department advises those who are uncomfortable to stay indoors during the spraying.
To see a map of the spray areas, go online to www.gypsymoth.wi.gov/ or call 1-800-642-6684.
Tomah Journal staff reporter Paul Medinger contributed to this story.
All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.