April 2005

Soybean Rust Update
Just a note to update you on soybean rust. I received an alert today stating that, "Semiole County, Georgia is the first county outside of Florida to report soybean rust in 2005. This is the first report on soybean in 2005. Rust was found on volunteer soybean. Scouting continues throughout the southeast with emphasis on kudzu and volunteer soybean." If you are interested in this type of information, I suggest you visit the web site _www.sbrusa.net . This is a nationwide tracking site for soybean rust. You can sign-up for individual alerts on the progress of soybean rust. If you have any questions, please contact me at the MAAA office.

Terry Ambroz--
Executive Director
MN Agricultural Aircraft Association

November 2004

National Media Attention Pertaining to Stolen Ag Plane In Mexico

Attached are talking points for you to use if you are contacted by the media. Download here

October 2004

FBI CONDUCTING ROUTINE BROAD BASED BACKGROUND CHECKS,
INCLUDES AERIAL APPLICATION

NAAA received a visit from the FBI this morning and they informed us that they will again be conducting background checks on aerial application operators and pilots. They also requested that the Association post a message on our website regarding these background checks. We have agreed to do so (the website message is below). They informed me that this initiative is a proactive and broad based background check that includes many other entities in addition to the aerial application industry. This exercise is based on security threats made by terrorist organizations to disrupt the upcoming U.S. elections.

Andrew D. Moore
Executive Director
National Agricultural Aviation Association
phone-202-546-5722
fax-202-546-5726
admoore@agaviation.org

During the next few months, the FBI will again be contacting aerial application operators and pilots. This initiative is a broad based, proactive measure prompted by recent terror threats made designed to disrupt the upcoming U.S. elections. The goals of the FBI activity are as follows:

1) To personally contact and remind all owners/operators/pilots of agricultural aircraft of the potential for terrorists to attempt to gain access to agricultural aircraft and the need to immediately report any suspicious activity surrounding their agricultural aircraft to their local law enforcement agency and to their nearest Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF);

2) Contact state and local law enforcement agencies to determine if there were any incidents involving agricultural aircraft, thefts or attempted thefts of agricultural aircraft, agricultural chemicals or dispersal equipment, or any other suspicious incidents involving the attempt to purchase, rent, or gain access to agricultural aircraft or dispersal equipment during the past year.

In July and August of 2003 the FBI conducted a thorough review of this issue, contacting over 3,000 owners, operators and pilots, and identifying over 4,000 aircraft. During that time, the FBI stressed to all concerned that any suspicious activity be reported immediately to the local authorities and the local JTTF. Based on the results of that effort, the FBI feels confident that should any suspicious activity occur, it will be reported. Such suspicious activity can be requests to observe the aircraft/facility operations, requests of a highly technical and specific nature, requests to rent an aircraft, purchase requests where the potential buyer desires to pay cash and to pay more than the asking price, surveillance of the facility, and attempts to steal an aircraft. The FBI reemphasizes that if someone feels that any contact is suspicious, they should report it to their local law enforcement agency and to their nearest JTTF.

The telephone numbers provided below are for the FBI Field Office headquarters locations. Several Field Offices cover several states; others cover multiple territories in one state. When in doubt, call the number listed for the city nearest you, or refer to your local telephone book for the number listed for the FBI.

To all,
This is a reinterview effort, not a true background check. We won't be running anyone thru the databases, etc. We will be asking for the community to be alert for any activity that is suspicious, that might lead us to something more dangerous. We are especially interested in any activity that someone may not have already reported. Please be assured that we won't be processing anyone's name through the myriad databases that we would use during a criminal investigation, and that someone's name be accidently included on that now (in)famous No-Fly list, etc.
Thanks, and feel to reach out for clarification as needed.
Gordon

Gordon L. Fuller
Intelligence Analyst
WMD Countermeasures/Programs Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation
202-324-0220
cell 202-297-5083

FBI CONTACT INFORMATION

ALBANY, NY: 518-465-7551
L LOUISVILLE, KY: 502-583-3941

ALBUQUERQUE, NM:
505-224-2000 MEMPHIS, TN:
901-747-4300

ANCHORAGE, AK: 907-276-4441
MIAMI, FL: 305-944-9101

ATLANTA, GA: 404-679-9000
MILWAUKEE, WI: 414-276-4684

BALTIMORE, MD: 410-265-8080
MOBILE, AL: 251-438-3674

BIRMINGHAM, AL: 205-326-6166
NEWARK, NJ: 973-792-3000

BOSTON, MA: 617-742-5533
NEW HAVEN, CT: 203-777-6311

BUFFALO, NY: 716-856-7800
NEW ORLEANS, LA: 504-816-3000

CHARLOTTE, NC:
704-377-9200 NEW YORK,
NY: 212-384-1000

CHICAGO, IL:
312-431-1333 NORFOLK,
VA: 757-455-0100

CINCINNATI, OH: 513-421-4310
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: 405-290-7770

CLEVELAND, OH:
216-522-1400 OMAHA, NE:
402-493-8688

COLUMBIA, SC: 803-551-4200
PHILADELPHIA, PA: 215-418-4000

DALLAS, TX:
972-559-5000 PHOENIX,
AZ: 602-279-5511

DENVER, CO: 303-629-7171
PITTSBURGH, PA: 412-432-4000

DETROIT, MI: 313-965-2323
PORTLAND, OR: 503-224-4181

EL PASO, TX:
915-832-5000 RICHMOND,
VA: 804-261-1044

HONOLULU, HI: 808-566-4300
SACRAMENTO, CA: 916-481-9110

HOUSTON, TX:
713-693-5000 SAINT
LOUIS, MO: 314-231-4324

INDIANAPOLIS, IN: 317-639-3301
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: 801-579-1400

JACKSON, MS: 601-948-5000
SAN ANTONIO, TX: 210-225-6741

JACKSONVILLE, FL: 904-721-1211
SAN DIEGO, CA: 858-565-1255

KANSAS CITY, MO: 816-221-6100
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: 415-553-7400

KNOXVILLE, TN: 865-544-0751
SAN JUAN, PR: 787-754-6000

LAS VEGAS, NV: 702-385-1281
SEATTLE, WA: 206-622-0460

LITTLE ROCK, AR:
501-221-9100 SPRINGFIELD, IL:
217-522-9675

LOS ANGELES, CA: 310-477-6565
TAMPA, FL: 813-273-4566

WASHINGTON (DC) FIELD OFFICE: 202-278-2000