Aerial seeding is planned in three New Jersey counties.
Residents in three New Jersey counties might see some low-flying aircraft in the coming days.
But don't panic. They're farming.
An aerial crop-cover seeding program is scheduled to begin Aug. 29 for corn and soybean fields in Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is expected to last three to four days, depending on weather.
Cover crops like ryegrass and clover help reduce erosion and improve soil health, the USDA said in a news release. The seeds will be applied by fixed-wing aircraft called "air tractors" that are designed to fly low and precise.
No pesticides or fertilizers are being applied, the USDA said.
Downstown Aero Crop Services, based in Vineland, N.J., has done the seeding the last two years and is being hired again this year, the release said. The program is funded by the department's Natural Resources Conservation Service and the North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council.
Anyone with questions about the program is asked to contact USDA district conservationist John Kluthe at the Frenchtown service center at 908-782-4614 ext. 3.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.