PLAQUEMINE — For more than five decades, Dirk Franklin has made a living in the air, flying over Louisiana fields to help sugarcane farmers prepare for harvest.

At 70 years old, Franklin is still crop dusting, bringing years of experience to fields around Plaquemine, from the Sunshine Bridge to Alma Plantation.

His interest in aviation began in 1976 after a friend who worked at a machine shop introduced him to crop dusting.

"I started flying because I had a friend who worked at a machine shop who said that he did crop dusting," Franklin said.

What began as an introduction turned into a lifelong career. Franklin has owned his Grumman Ag-Cat since 1989 and also works as an aircraft mechanic.

Before taking off, Franklin checks his aircraft and determines where the day's work will take him.

Crop dusting involves dispensing agricultural products over crops from an aircraft. One product Franklin applies to sugarcane is a ripener, which helps increase the sugar content in the plant before harvest.

"Well, the ripener that we put out is very important to the crop as far as increasing the sugar content in the plant," Franklin said.

For Franklin, the job is about more than the work happening below him. He enjoys the independence that comes with flying and being responsible for the work himself.

"I enjoy flying, the freedom of flying, and doing the job myself. I'm the one who's in control of that," Franklin said.

After more than 50 years in the air, Franklin isn't ready to retire. He plans to keep flying until he turns 75.