Thrash Aviation, of Pelahatchie, will be in the Lincoln Countyarea flying agricultural aircraft and applying dry fertilizer topine tree forests during the next few weeks, company officialssaid.

Officials said their yellow and blue aircraft will be flyingprimarily over pine tree forests at very low altitudes, which canbe as low as 50 above tree tops. Normal hours of operation in goodweather are from daylight until dark, with flights usually shutdown on Sundays during church hours.

Planes will be spreading, or dropping, a mixture of simple whiteor reddish brown farm-type fertilizer. The material is drygranules, non-toxic and harmless to people, livestock, homes andvehicles.

Thrash officials announced their plans to be in the areafollowing concerns and fears after the Sept. 11 terroristattacks.

“Recently, our country has experienced terrible events – eventsthat have shocked and horrified us all,” a Thrash spokesman said apress release. “And yet, even in light of those terrible events,our President and leaders of Congress have encouraged all of us togo back to work and to try and live in as normal a way aspossible.”

Visitors are not allowed at Thrash Aviation sites, which areusually mobile. Officials said sheriffs’ departments have also beennotified of flight operations taking place in their areas.