California Ag Network

Category: Pest/Disease Management

  • DPR Releases Draft Strategic Plan, Reflecting Sustainable Pest Management Approach

    The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is updating its strategic plan with action-oriented, measurable goals to guide priorities over the next five years.

    Released today for public feedback, DPR’s draft 2024 Strategic Plan lays the groundwork for a streamlined, transparent, accountable department that centers its work around human health, equity and environmental justice, broad environmental protections, support for agriculture and community well-being, and economic vitality.

    “Our draft strategic plan reflects the department’s evolution in regulating pest management in a way that supports healthy lives and a healthy environment for all Californians, and an abundant, healthy food supply for future generations,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with all of our stakeholders and partners to collect feedback on the department’s identified priorities.”

    The department’s updated strategic plan reflects its sustainable pest management approach to the full scope of its work. The updated plan also strengthens and reaffirms the department’s commitment to equitably protect all Californians and advance environmental justice.

    Updated DPR Mission: We protect human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and regulating pesticides.

    Updated DPR Vision: A California where pest management is safe, effective, and sustainable for everyone.

    The department’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will also be reflected in its updated strategic plan.

    The goals outlined in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan will advance the department’s mission, vision and commitment to equity and environmental justice. The draft is available on DPR’s website In English and Spanish.

    DPR encourages feedback from all stakeholders on its draft 2024 Strategic Plan.

    Opportunity for Public Comment

    DPR will accept written comments on the draft 2024 Strategic Plan via mail or email from Sept. 19 through Oct. 20, 2023. Comments are accepted online through DPR’s public comment portal in English or Spanish. written comments can be mailed to DPR at 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-4015.

    Public Meetings on Oct. 2, 3, 4 and 6, 2023

    DPR will host four public meetings – two virtually and two in-person  – to receive live feedback on the goals outlined in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan. All four public meetings will be facilitated and offer simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. The meetings will each include brief remarks from DPR leadership on the draft updated mission, vision, DEI statement and goals included in the draft 2024 Strategic Plan, and then attendees will have two minutes per person to provide public comment. No registration is required to attend.

    Monday, Oct. 2
    When: 4-6:30 p.m. PDT

     

    Tuesday, Oct. 3
    When: 4-6:30 p.m. PDT
    Where: Meitzenheimer Community Center
    830 S. Blackstone Street
    Tulare, CA 93274
    Wednesday, Oct. 4
    When: 4-6:30 p.m. PDT
    Where: Civic Plaza Community Room A&B
    275 Main Street
    Watsonville, CA 95076

     

    Friday, Oct. 6
    When: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. PDT

    Where: Held virtually, join via Zoom

    Opportunity for Tribal Consultation

    DPR respectfully requests tribal consultations on the draft 2024 Strategic Plan be held by Oct. 20, 2023. Tribes may submit consultation requests via email to Paul Ryan at Paul.Ryan@cdpr.ca.gov or via mail to:

    California Environmental Protection Agency
    Department of Pesticide Regulation
    ATTN: Paul Ryan, Tribal Liaison
    1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
    Sacramento, CA 95812-4015

    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 500 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.

  • State Reaches Settlement with Major California Pesticide Applicator

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced it reached a settlement with a major agricultural pesticide-application business regarding numerous violations of state law that endangered workers and the public.

    In November 2022, DPR initiated a licensing disciplinary action against TriCal Inc., one of the state’s largest agricultural pesticide applicators and the largest single applicator of 1,3-D. The pesticide 1,3-D has been linked to potential acute and cancer health effects at certain levels of exposure.

    DPR’s licensing action cites 9 incidents and 61 pesticide use violations in Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties involving 1,3-D and/or chloropicrin.

    The settlement reached today will require a two-year probation of TriCal’s license. The probation requirements include:

    • Providing seven-day advance public notification to neighbors within difficult-to-evacuate sites and sensitive sites of planned pesticide applications, such as school facilities, nursing homes, or occupied residences or businesses.
    • Using special impermeable ground-covering tarps for certain types of applications.
    • Enhanced post-application monitoring for all fumigations near difficult-to-evacuate sites, sensitive sites and bystander areas. Bystander areas include wildlife habitat, sidewalks and parking lots.Creating and hiring three new compliance coordinator positions and adding additional trained staff to increase monitoring during applications.

      TriCal must also develop a “stewardship program” to improve the education and resources provided to pesticide applicators.

      “Licensed pesticide applicators must adhere to the state’s strict requirements governing the safe use of pesticides,” said Julie Henderson, DPR Director. “Compliance with the state’s pesticide use laws and regulations is essential to protecting the health of workers, communities, and the environment, and to the sustainability of healthy food production in California.”

      DPR’s settlement with TriCal follows a series of enforcement actions taken by local, state, and federal agencies. Enforcement actions from county agricultural commissioners in 12 counties assessed more than $125,000 in administrative civil penalties against TriCal between 2014 and 2020. In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assessed a $44,275 fine for federal pesticide violations occurring in Fresno County. Most recently, TriCal paid $400,000 in penalties as part of a judgment in a Monterey County civil action for a series of pesticide incidents in that county. Unlike the previous enforcement actions which sought monetary penalties, DPR’s action imposes probationary requirements. As the state agency responsible for administering the professional pesticide applicator licensing program, DPR has authority to take licensing action based on violations of pesticide use requirements.

      The majority of the “priority episodes” DPR cited in the licensing disciplinary action occurred in Monterey County. Priority episodes are defined as violations that result in serious illness or injury, or that affect more than five people or result in significant property damage or crop loss. In an October 2019 priority episode cited in the action, 39 fieldworkers in Monterey County were exposed to 1,3-D and chloropicrin due to TriCal’s misapplication of the pesticides. Thirty-two fieldworkers experienced symptoms of pesticide exposure and three sought medical care for their symptoms.

      Investigations of these violations were conducted by county agricultural commissioners.

      “The additional probationary requirements will increase transparency about the use of these products to neighboring communities and agricultural businesses while also creating uniform use conditions across California to continue to ensure the safe and effective use of these pesticides” said Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo. “California has the most robust pesticide regulatory program in our nation, and today’s actions demonstrate the commitment at the state and local level to protect our agricultural workers and communities.”

      Failure to comply with the terms of the settlement could result in license suspension. The full terms of the settlement can be found here.

      ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION

      The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and carrying out a robust regulatory program.

      DPR’s work includes conducting scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment prior to and following registration, registering all pesticides prior to sale or use in California, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide laws and regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their combined 500 field inspectors across the state’s 58 counties. DPR invests in innovative research, outreach, and education to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices and conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to pesticide safety information. More information about DPR.

  • California Table Grape Growers Estimate 25 Million Boxes Lost to Hurricane

    Hurricane Hilary delivered wind and rain to many of California’s table grape vineyards at peak harvest time for most of the 90 varieties grown in the state. The immediate aftermath of the hurricane brought additional rain and humidity to many growing areas, compounding problems and loss. “The impact of the hurricane and its aftermath is devastating and heartbreaking,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “To say that the grower and farmworker community is in shock is an understatement.”

    With approximately 30 percent of the crop harvested when the hurricane hit, it is projected that 35 percent of the remaining crop – 25 million boxes – has been lost. “The revised estimate for the California crop is 71.9 million 19-pound boxes,” said Nave. “The last time the crop was under 75 million boxes was 1994.”

    Noting that it is typical for California to ship over 65 percent of its crop after September 1, Nave said that based on the revised estimate there are still over 45 million boxes of grapes the industry plans to ship. “Reaching consumers at retail stores is a major focus of the work done by the commission,” Nave said. “Partnering with retailers to get grapes on store shelves and to promote them to consumers is work that will continue throughout the season.”

    Nave said that retailers understand the damage the storm caused and the many ways that labor costs will increase as a result. “Retailers understand that even with skilled workers it will take more time to harvest much of the remaining crop and that accordingly, to keep grapes on the retail shelves throughout the fall the price paid to growers will need to be enough to make it worthwhile to harvest.”

    Nave said the industry plans to continue assessing the situation in the weeks ahead, providing updates as needed, and that the commission will continue its retail promotion activities and consumer advertising campaigns throughout the season.

  • California Funds Nearly $1M in Grant Projects for Adoption of Sustainable Pest Management

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation recently announced funding for three Alliance Grants to increase the speed and the scale at which safer, more sustainable pest management is adopted across the state.

    This year, DPR is investing more than $957,000 to fund three projects focused on pest management in affordable housing, and specialized training for urban and agricultural pest management professionals. Since 2007, DPR has awarded more than $8.7 million in Alliance Grants.

    DPR’s Alliance Grants Program funds projects that promote integrated pest management (IPM), which is an approach that uses the least-toxic, effective method to solve pest problems. Building on the existing practice of IPM, sustainable pest management (SPM) incorporates broader considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections, and economic viability into pest management decisions. Previously funded Alliance Grants demonstrated strong partnerships, outreach or education to promote IPM and help execute the vision of the SPM Roadmap to expand the adoption of sustainable pest management tools and practices.

    “California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Alliance Grants invest in programs that increase awareness, provide technical assistance and support knowledge sharing of integrated pest management,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “Our grantees this year build on the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap’s call for outreach and education in both agricultural and urban settings to accelerate a systemwide transition to safer, sustainable practices.”

    Alliance Grant Projects:

    Decreasing pesticide use in affordable housing – $321,670

    Building on research conducted through a 2019 grant, Sraddha Mehta, Senior Environmental Justice Coordinator at the San Francisco Environment Department, will lead a team to develop an IPM model for affordable housing. This project will focus on increasing adoption of pest prevention techniques in affordable housing to reduce pest infestations and decrease pesticide use. The outreach will include trainings, recommendations and other assistance that can be distributed statewide.

    Urban SPM apprenticeship – $172,575

    Ryan Anderson, Sustainable Communities Manager at the IPM Institute of North America, will lead a team to develop an IPM apprenticeship program for urban pest management professionals. The program will provide training for prevention-based pest and weed control, and sustainable urban landscape design in Sacramento Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California.

    Agricultural SPM training – $463,313

    Jo Ann Baumgartner, Executive Director from Wild Farm Alliance, will provide SPM training for pest control professionals on soil nutrient management, supporting beneficial biodiversity and other projects specific to addressing pest pressures on California crops including almonds, mixed vegetables, strawberries, walnuts and wine grapes. The project will also build an online peer network where participants can share and access resources on effective, sustainable pest management.

    For more information on past recipients of DPR grants, or to learn more about grant applications, please visit DPR’s Grants Program webpage.

    For more information on the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap, please visit 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 500 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.

  • California Growers Face High Mildew Pressure, Delayed Grape Harvest

    It’s been a while since California growers have experienced a wet year with a plentiful snowpack and water supply.  Weather conditions this season, though, have pushed harvest back for most grape growers and powdery mildew pressure has been unusually high for growers that didn’t stay on their spray programs with just the right timing.  Watch this brief interview with UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor George Zhuang as he explains, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Thunder Creek Equipment for their industry support.

  • Phased Increase of “Mill” Fee from Pesticide Retailers to Fund California DPR

    The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today released the results of an independent study designed to evaluate the department’s main funding source, the mill fee. The study examined proposed structures and rates to provide long-term sustainable funding that would allow DPR to continue to fulfill its mission and incentivize sustainable pest management.

    To accelerate the transition to sustainable pest management in California, the 2021-2022 state budget funded an investment in the independent Mill Assessment Study to assess the long-term funding needs for the department. The study found that DPR is critically underfunded, which jeopardizes its ability to continue to operate foundational programs that protect people and the environment from pesticide risks. The study also found that the department lacks funding to support the development and implementation of safer, more sustainable alternatives for effectively managing pests, including bacteria, rodents, insects and weeds, in agricultural, urban and wildland settings.

    To help ensure long-term, stable funding for the department, the Mill Assessment Study recommends a phased-in increase of the mill – from the current $0.021 for every dollar in sales, up to $0.0339 per dollar in sales. The study also recommends the consideration of a future tiered mill structure to support and incentivize sustainable pest management.

    Over the last several decades, the department has added and expanded essential programs to address the risks and impacts of pesticide use on people and the environment, incorporate new technologies for studying and monitoring pesticide risks, and engage with communities impacted by pesticide use – but the current mill assessment has not increased in nearly 20 years. Since 2013, the department has been operating with a structural imbalance.

    Critically, the 2023-24 state budget provides $1.9 million in immediate funding to begin to address the department’s most urgent funding needs for pesticide registration and evaluation and strategic planning and initial implementation of the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap, and to study fumigant pesticide alternatives.

    Adequate, stable, long-term funding is essential for the department to scientifically and efficiently evaluate pesticides for safe use in California; monitor pesticides in air and water; track reported human health impacts; consider of emerging science related to pesticide risks; mitigate pesticide-related risks; and enforce pesticide use laws and regulations that keep workers, communities and the environment safe. An efficient registration and evaluation process is essential to address changing pest pressures and efficacy of current and future pest management tools and resources.

    “This study highlights the urgent need to provide short- and long-term funding for the department to continue to improve protections for people and the environment and ensure the availability of safe, effective pest management tools,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said. “The way pests are managed impacts human health and the environment. The department needs effective long-term, stable funding to ensure pest management approaches across the state protect people and the environment and support agriculture, community well-being and our wildlands.”

    In January 2023, a group of diverse stakeholders released the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California to chart a course for pest management approaches in California that address human health and equity, consider broader environmental factors, support community well-being, and safeguard the future of our agricultural and food supply sector. The recommended mill increase would provide needed long-term support for foundational department work and fund the accelerated statewide transition to sustainable pest management. The increase would also fund pesticide-related programs at the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the pesticide enforcement programs on a local level that are implemented by county agricultural commissioners.

    “To truly build a healthy and safe California for all, we must transition to sustainable pest management and decrease our dependence on high-risk pesticides. That includes ensuring DPR has adequate, long-term funding to expedite the registration of safer tools and improve its evaluation of currently registered pesticides,” said CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia. “DPR plays a vital role in protecting human health and the environment from potential pesticide exposure, but it needs additional resources to continue to fulfill its mandate and move forward with the implementation of the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap.”

    For more on the mill study, see 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 500 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.

  • Managing Toxic Plants in Grazing Fields

    Some plants thrive even in dry years, while others need wet years to really blossom. It’s no surprise, then, that this year the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Fresno office has received several inquiries about potentially toxic plants and how to deal with them. Even if these species have always been present in the seed bank or on neighboring land, this year was a good year for toxic plants to grow large where previously they grew very small – or didn’t grow at all.

    Common plants that can cause livestock poisoning include annuals such as cockleburs, hairy fleabane, and yellow starthistle, and perennials like curly dock, larkspurs, and milkweeds. Annuals especially tend to respond vigorously to available soil moisture as they need to germinate a new generation each year from seed. Depending on how rapidly these plants develop roots, they may be able to produce a second generation (or more) even in the summer season. Populations of toxic plants may expand this year due to the good growing conditions.

    Prevention

    Maintaining healthy, diverse stands of forage to compete with toxic plants and to provide ample non-toxic options is the best prevention of plant poisonings in livestock. Grazing moderately is an important practice to maintain a healthy, diverse community of forage plants. Grazing too heavily can reduce desired species and allow toxic plants to become more common. Many toxic plants are not palatable, so they are avoided when other, desirable forage is available. However, animals may not be able to avoid harmful plants if a pasture is dominated by them. In those cases, it may be best to remove animals from that pasture and/or provide them with an alternate feed source until the toxic plant is reduced.

    When managing fields for hay production, minimizing the population of toxic plants is critical. Animals can’t be selective around different plant parts in hay bales or flakes, and many toxic plants are harmful even in very small quantities.

    Risk and monitoring

    At this time in the summer, many common toxic plants in California are highly visible in contrast to dry, golden annual grasses. Monitoring could be as simple as driving or walking along fencelines and especially checking high-impact areas such as corrals, holding pens, water troughs, and mineral licks. Riparian areas are also important monitoring areas, such as the banks of creeks and streams. These can be key host sites for toxic plants, and animals like to spend time in those cooler areas during the summer. Animal exposure to toxic plants may be higher when the annual forages have dried up and lush green plants may be enticing.

    When monitoring key areas on your property, take photos and/or samples of unfamiliar plants. You can send pictures or bring samples to your local UCCE office (find yours here) for assistance in identifying the plants and any necessary management strategies. If you bring a sample, please be sure to bag the whole plant, including the roots if possible. If you take pictures, try to have a photo that shows the full plant, as well close-ups of the leaf shape, flowers or fruits/seeds, and any other unique features such as spines or hairs.

    Figure 2. Some examples of the photos that are helpful to successfully ID a plant: a picture of the whole plant, and close-ups of the leaves and flowers. This example is Asclepias cordifolia, heart-leaf or purple milkweed, photographed in eastern Fresno County.

    You can also use the online weed ID tool at the Weed RIC website to narrow down possible plants yourself. Be sure to change the Search Location to California!

    Management resources

    To learn more about plants that are toxic to livestock, you can download the UC ANR publication, Livestock-poisoning Plants of California, for free by clicking HERE. This resource includes useful photos of common harmful plants as well as detailed information about the health impacts of different plants on cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.

    Once you have a confirmed plant ID, you can find out what management practices can control the species you have. Weed reports from the UC ANR publication Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States are one of the best resources that describe all possible control methods, and how well they can work. You can download specific weed reports here or purchase the full book from your local UCCE office, or online here.

    If you have livestock with signs of plant toxicity, contact your veterinarian for support. If livestock have died, you can contact the CAHFS lab nearest you to get an estimate for a necropsy or other toxicology tests. — By Rebecca Ozeran, UCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor

  • $1.9 Million in Grants to Support Transition to Safer, Sustainable Pest Management in California

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has opened $1.9 million in available funding to support integrated pest management (IPM) projects that expand available tools, resources and practices that increase the adoption of IPM and support a statewide transition to sustainable pest management.

    Sustainable pest management builds on the existing practices of IPM to incorporate broadened considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections and economic viability in the way pests are managed in agricultural, urban and wildland settings.

    The funding announced today is available through the 2024 Alliance and Research Grants programs. In the past 20 years, these programs have awarded more than $26 million for more than 100 projects that advance the use of IPM and ultimately increase the adoption of more sustainable methods for managing pests that are safer for people and the environment.

    “To accelerate the systemwide adoption of sustainable pest management across the state, we need to both build a suite of effective alternatives to higher risk pesticides and expand the knowledge, technical assistance and practical resources for growers and urban pest managers to manage pests in the safest, effective way for people and the environment,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson.

    The 2024 Research and Alliance Grants programs are seeking projects that address one or more of the following examples of priority topic areas:

    • IPM resources for underserved or disadvantaged communities or for small growing operations
    • Decreasing the use of high-risk, high-volume pesticides (for example: fumigants)
    • Tools, strategies and resources for IPM and sustainable pest management use in agricultural areas near school sites and urban settings
    • Incorporating the sustainability pillars of broadened considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections and economic vitality as outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management RoadmapPreviously funded Research and Alliance Grant projects include:
      • Researching the use of RNA interference, antimicrobial peptides, and sterile insect techniques to effectively manage pests.
      • Providing culturally relevant and accessible education programs promoting IPM practices to residents in low-income communities of color.
      • Promoting the adoption of short wavelength ultraviolet lights (UV-C) to manage pests in California strawberries.

      The 2024 Research Grants Program has up to $800,000 to award for projects of up to three years in length. Projects should develop pest management tools and practices to reduce the use of high-risk pesticides or decrease the impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. Project budgets may range from $50,000 to $500,000. Research Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 14.

      The 2024 Alliance Grants Program has up to $1.1 million to award for projects of up to three years in length. Projects should promote or increase sustainable pest management though the implementation, expansion, or adoption of effective, proven and affordable IPM systems or practices. Project budgets may range from $50,000 to $800,000. Alliance Grant applications will be accepted through Jan. 18, 2024.

      For more information on the Alliance Grants and Research Grants programs, including how to apply, please visit the Department of Pesticide Regulation Grants 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 500 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.

  • PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment set at $1.25 for 2023 Harvest

    To continue funding crucial research combating winegrape pests and diseases, the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board kept the PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment rate at $1.25 per $1,000 value for the 2023 harvest.

    The Board ensures grower funds are utilized wisely and productively to support the development of innovative solutions to PD, GWSS, and seven additional designated winegrapes pests and diseases. The 2023 assessment is expected to bring in an estimated $5.0 million. View the full list of pests and diseases online at bit.ly/3qSSPQ8.

    “As the PD/GWSS Board, our responsibility lies in protecting the interests of the winegrape industry and promoting its long-term sustainability,” said PD/GWSS Board Chair William Drayton. “The PD/GWSS assessment allows us to effectively allocate resources towards comprehensive research efforts, enabling leading scientists to tackle the ever-evolving challenges posed by pests and diseases.”

    The assessment has averaged $1.35 per $1,000 of value and has collected $83.1 million since 2001. The Board advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture on the best use of assessment funds, with $55 million invested in 282 research grants.

    The Board has been at the forefront of safeguarding the California winegrape industry against devastating threats since winegrape growers passed the first PD/GWSS Referendum in 2000. The PD/GWSS Referendum is conducted every five years and will take place again in 2025. Learn more about Board-funded research, including a list of current research projects, at bit.ly/3w27mtc.

  • Newly Identified Aspergillus Vine Canker Afflicting California Vineyards

    As if there weren’t enough trunk diseases impacting California vineyards, UC Davis Plant Pathologist Akif Eskalen has been researching a newly identified disease causing a canker on the trunk of grapevines accompanied by fruit disease/sour rot symptoms. Watch this brief interview with Akif, and read more about it disease management in American Vineyard Magazine

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.