In this video, American Pistachio Growers President Richard Matoian not only provides details on the latest pistachio shipment trends, but he also shares what growers can expect in attending what will likely be the largest American Pistachio Conference yet, coming up Feb. 27 – Mar. 1. Stay in the know and watch now!
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Former Sun-Maid President Barry Kriebel has returned to industry leadership as the new President of the Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA). Approved by the association board of directors on the evening of Feb. 2, watch this brief interview with Barry and Chairman of the selection committee Mitch Sangha to learn more. Read about it in the next issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
Today, the state joined leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds to unveil a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s systemwide transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized high-risk pesticides by 2050 to better protect the health of our communities and environment, while supporting agriculture, food systems and community well-being.
The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California – released by the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture – charts a course for the state’s transition to sustainable pest management in agricultural and urban settings.
The roadmap was developed over nearly two years by a diverse, cross-sector group of stakeholders representing conventional and organic agriculture, urban environments, community and environmental groups, tribes, researchers, and government.
“For decades, California has used pesticides to protect our crops, our cities, our homes, and our businesses from pests,” said Yana Garcia, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection. “Exposure to harmful pesticides carries risks – to our health and to our environment – and these risks are disproportionately borne by communities already overburdened by pollution. If we truly want to build a healthy and safe California for all, we must phase out and replace the highest-risk pesticides, and the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap is a bold, new plan to get us there.”
Sustainable pest management is a holistic, systemwide approach that builds on the practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by incorporating essential elements of human health and social equity, environmental protection, and economic vitality. IPM uses the least toxic, effective method to solve pest problems. While IPM has been practiced to varying degrees for decades, it hasn’t been adopted at scale, across the board, in agriculture or in urban or wildland settings, which is why the holistic, systemwide approach recommended through the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap is a necessary evolution.
“The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap recognizes how the management of pest pressures is strongly interconnected with resilient farm and ecosystems, and the health of farmworker and communities. said CDFA Secretary, Karen Ross. “We have a lot of work ahead to implement the approaches outlined in the roadmap. However, the implementation of these recommendations will ensure an abundant and healthful food supply, protect our natural resources, and create healthy, resilient communities.”
The Sustainable Pest Management Work Group was formed in response to both a recommendation from the state’s Chlorpyrifos Alternatives Work Group, and the Governor’s, CalEPA’s and DPR’s recognition of the need to accelerate a holistic, systemwide approach to safer, more sustainable pest management. The Work Group was comprised of 25 members representing diverse interests to address sustainable pest management in agricultural settings, and an additional eight members formed an urban subgroup to address urban pest pressures specifically.
“Successfully transitioning to sustainable pest management requires collective action,” said DPR Director, Julie Henderson. “The critical actions outlined in the roadmap include prioritizing prevention, coordinating state-level leadership, investing in building knowledge about sustainable pest management, improving the state’s registration and evaluation process to bring more sustainable alternatives to market and enhancing monitoring and statewide data collection to better inform actions.”
DPR opened a public comment period on the prioritization and implementation of next steps outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. The comment period opened today and will close at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2023. Comments can be sent to alternatives@cdpr.ca.gov or by mail to 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812. Comments received will be considered as part of the state-level coordination on implementing the recommendations in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.
DPR and partner agencies will additionally host a series of webinars to discuss the recommendations and actions outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for both agricultural and urban landscapes. The webinars are planned for February 2023 and more information will be available on DPR’s website.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 400 field inspectors. DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information. DPR invests in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices. More information about DPR can be found at www.cdpr.ca.gov.
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Worldwide growers face severe issues with the allocation of fumigants, reduced control from conventional nematicides, or bio and conventional-based nematicides that provide suppression or just don’t work. The damage done by nematodes to crops is devasting, leading to reduced uptake of nutrients, lower yields, or slower growth. The losses from nematodes exceed 10 billion USD annually. Unfortunately, there is no way of fixing a poor start when planting or getting back lost revenue regarding nematicide control.
Vigilance Nematicide is GroPro’s patented bio-nematicide, providing fumigation and in-field application control, and it’s a proven nematicide that has gone head-to-head in multiple fields and demo trials worldwide with both conventional and bio-based nematicides. These third-party trials and demos were performed on a wide range of crops, such as grapes, almonds, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, citrus, potatoes, plus others, all of which have shown superior efficacy against conventional and bio-based nematicides. The potato fumigation replacement trial showed an increase of over 11% in yield and an excellent nematode reduction compared to the grower standard fumigation program. This was accomplished with an increase in the number of ones and twos over the conventionally applied blocks while reducing damage to the tuber itself, allowing for a better marketable potato. The in-season applications to above-ground crops have increased root mass and decreased galling—root matter, especially when considering fertilizer absorption by the plants.
Vigilance ensures a long safe approach to your nematode program. Vigilance uses a patented formulation that delivers superior environmental and worker safety. Vigilance Nematicide works on penetrating the roots to support new fleshy root growth and deals with parasitic nematodes inside the root itself. Vigilance performs in soil nematode control by causing paralysis, destruction of the nematode eggs, GABA, reduced female fecundity, and death. These modes of action continue for months* allowing for a long-term active control time. This long-term activity is due to Vigilance being produced using GroPro’s patented AMPx technology. Vigilance is both a control and suppression material for nematodes allowing peace of mind for growers while delivering a safe impact to workers and the environment. Vigilance has no MRL restrictions, zero setback issues, zero plant back restrictions, and zero pre-harvest restrictions.
GroPro Corp., a leading agri-biotech company, combines unique natural ingredients and modern technologies to manufacture bioproducts (biological inputs) with enhanced efficacy. It is a commercial bio-pesticide, bio-stimulant, bio-fertilizer manufacturer and an R&D international organization. GoPro aims to close the gap in effective non-chemical inputs that enable farmers to reduce their reliance on chemicals without compromising agricultural yield, quality, or profitability.
GroPro’s approach entails proprietary technologies, including pharmaceutical-grade biotech manufacturing processes. It works relentlessly to innovate and lead the way in the worldwide development, research, education, and adoption of the agro-biotech market.
*When applied correctly
More info: groproag.com
Finding that California school districts have not been following the Buy American Act regarding food purchases, Ag Council of California sponsored legislation to reinforce the provision with successful results. Watch this brief interview with Emily Rooney, President of Ag Council, for more details and how this will support California agriculture and the local economy.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
From the Annual Meeting of Sun-Maid Growers, watch this brief interview with Chairman of the Board Steve Kister as he reports on the results of the 2022 crop and State of the Raisin Industry. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Sun-Maid Growers of California has recently gone through some leadership changes, and at their annual meeting in December, growers were introduced to a new President of the cooperative, Steve Loftus. Watch this brief interview to get to know Steve and what he plans to bring to Sun-Maid. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
There have been rumors that Sun-Maid Growers’ CEO has left to take the position as CEO of another snacking food company. Watch this video interview with outgoing CEO Harry Overly as he clarifies his position at Sun-Maid. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Are you considering fumigating your soil soon? California regulations are changing and there are some things growers should know about, and consider getting involved in the conversation. Watch this brief interview with Gabriele Ludwig from the Almond Board of California for more information.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
Although almond trees are at rest and dormant for the winter, growers were reminded at the recent Tree & Vine Expo that their work isn’t finished regarding the fight against Navel Orangeworm. Watch this brief interview with David Haviland from the UC Cooperative Extension, as he shares year-round tools and practices to stay on top of managing the number one insect pest in the tree nut industry. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.