USDA To Fly Helicopters Over Southcoast Farms

Southcoast residents could soon see some helicopters hovering over local farms.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service will be using the helicopters to plant seeds on farms in Dartmouth, Taunton, and Westport.

Diane Petit, a Public Affairs Officer with the Natural Resources Conservation Service tells WBSM News that the work is being done through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program has seed released through from a hopper hanging below the helicopter.

"That involves establishing a plant on the soil when there's not another primary crop growing on the field," said Petit "so farmers will plant a crop such as Rye grass for example that will keep the soil covered throughout the fall, winter, and spring."

The planting is being done between August 10 and mid-September so that the plantings will be established before the crops are harvested.

Petit says that the practice not only keeps the soil healthy when its time to plant crops again for next year's harvest, but also helps to preserve the quality of nearby waterways.

"By having and keeping a cover crop on the soil in the offseason it's helping to prevent soil erosion and runoff into nearby rivers and streams and lakes and ponds," said Petit.

This practice will be taking place across the state and Petit says they are putting out the notice so that people won't be surprised when they see low-flying helicopters on nearby farms.

"It may be a little bit unusual to see a helicopter flying low over farm fields, and they might wonder what's going," said Petit "we'd like folks to know that it's conservation practice and their farm neighbors are actually caring for the land and it's benefiting the entire community."

Once the helicopters arrive and load up their seeds Petit says the seeding process should only take a few minutes before they move on to the next farm.