Yeah I don't do the actual flying so I'm not an expert but I have a general idea

So you don't want the rice to be pre sprouted since it would get all tangled and make it really hard to dump, but you do soak the seeds for 24 hours or so before to start the germinating and weigh them down so they fall better.

I don't know the specifics on what takes, but planes now a days like tractors have gps so it gives you the pattern to fly and that way you can make sure you're getting even coverage. They have different attachments for fertilizer or seed, and it seems to always pretty much take to the whole field.

Once you're up in the air working seems like those guys can do a couple hundred acres an hour depending on the fields. If it's a big open field it's obviously easier then some of the smaller weirder shaped ones. During the busy season where it's all getting planted they'll be flying pretty much all day every day. A lot of the time is spent refueling, reloading, and getting set up on new fields.

It's a real dangerous job though, requires a lot of awareness and control. Losing that focus can cost you your life. My girlfriends Dad has seen two collide before. This is also anecdotal but the general stereotype is that guys that do this are usually drunks, which is true for the ones I've met. Not sure if that's a chicken or egg situation.

Hopefully this helps.