Aero Tech's three Air Tractor 400 spray planes at a private airstrip in White Swan, Washington. Yakima Reservation western spruce budworm suppression project.
Photo by: Unknown
Date: 1990
Credit: USDA Forest Service, Region 6, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection.
Source: Forest Health Protection slide collection; Regional Office, Portland, Oregon.
Image provided by USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection:
www.fs.usda.gov/main/r6/forest-grasslandhealth From the 1990 Western Spruce Budworm Suppression Project, Yakima Indian Reservation. Prepared by James S. Hadfield, Forest Pest Management, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region available here:
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_026558.pdf "The USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Yakima Indian Nation Tribal Council carried out a project to suppress an outbreak of western spruce budworm on the Yakima Indian Reservation in central Washington. Thuricide 48LV, a biological insecticide using Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki [Btk] as the active ingredient was applied undiluted at the rate of 1/3 gallon per acre to 70,827 acres. Application was made by helicopters and single engine airplanes. Early larval density prior to spraying averaged 27.3 budworm larvae per 45 CM mid-crown branch tip. Post-spray density averaged 1.0 budworms per branch for a 96.5 percent population reduction. Cost for the treatment was $15.35 per acre.
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Aero Tech provided 3 Air Tractor 400 airplanes and 2 UH1B-204 helicopters for application aircraft, 2 Bell 206s and 2 Hughes 500s for observation helicopters, and support personnel and equipment. One of the 204 helicopters was badly damaged in a crash and was replaced by a Bell 206 equipped for spraying.
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Aero Tech leased a privately owned airstrip and hanger at White Swan, Washington. All aerial activity was staged from this facility."
For other R6 pesticide application project documentation see:
www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/forest-grasslandhealth/insects-...
