Central Texas rancher files suit against crop dusting company after he lost 21 acres of hay
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A West rancher who alleges he lost 21 acres of hay through an errant crop-dusting incident is suing a Hill County aerial agricultural company for damages.
Norman Klanika, who owns property in the 4200 block of Heritage Parkway in West, is seeking $250,000 from Aerial AG Services and Matthew Ashcraft, of Hillsboro, in his lawsuit filed last week in Waco’s 414th State District Court.
Ashcraft did not respond to phone messages or an email left at his business this week.
The lawsuit was filed on Klanika’s behalf by Waco attorney Mason Dunnam, who declined comment Thursday on the petition.
According to the lawsuit, Klanika’s adjoining neighbor hired Aerial AG Services to spray herbicides over the neighbor’s cotton field in the spring. While this was being done, the lawsuit alleges, the company negligently sprayed herbicides onto Klanika’s adjoining hay field, destroying about 21 acres of Klanika’s hay crop.
“Due to Defendant’s negligence, Plaintiff lost a minimum of four hay cuts from his damaged field for the remainder of the 2025 growing season and the 2026 growing season,” the lawsuit alleges.
Before the lawsuit was filed, the defendants assured Klanika that the matter would be resolved, the suit contends.
“However, Defendants have since ceased communication with Plaintiff and failed to return calls regarding compensation,” the lawsuit states.
Besides claims of negligence and gross negligence, the lawsuit alleges the company violated state codes and regulations governing the industry.
“Such conduct constitutes a misuse of pesticides and herbicides in violation of the Texas Agriculture Code and related regulations are intended to prevent exactly the type of harm suffered by Plaintiff, including crop destruction and financial loss caused by herbicide use,” according to the lawsuit.
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