California Ag Network

Tag: California Department of Pesticide Regulation

  • California Fruits and Vegetables Prove Some of the Safest in the World

    Newly released California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) data show that 97% of fresh fruit and vegetable samples collected and tested contain no illegal pesticide residue.

    The department’s 2022 California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Annual Report includes information on 3,281 produce samples collected from more than 500 businesses throughout California.

    Key findings from the report include:

    • 97% of fresh produce tested had no detectable pesticide residues or had residues below health-protective thresholds set by the federal government.
    • 37% of all samples collected had no detectable pesticide residues, while another 60% had residues below federal benchmarks. Just 3% of all samples had illegal residue levels.
    • Only 1% of domestically grown produce sampled and tested contained illegal residues.
    • No illegal residues were found on 78 types of produce tested, including highly consumed products like avocados and apples.
    • Of the illegal residues found, 82% were on imported produce.

    DPR samples produce from wholesale and retail outlets, distribution centers, and roadside and farmers markets. Samples include imported and domestically grown produce that have been both organic and conventionally farmed. When illegal detections are found, the department traces the produce back to the store, distributor and farmer. Produce with illegal detections are quarantined and may be destroyed to prevent further distribution of tainted products.

    Samples are analyzed by scientists at California Department of Food and Agriculture laboratories and tested for 500 types of pesticides and related compounds. The testing occurs on unwashed, unpeeled produce. Residue quantities above limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are illegal to sell. These limits are called “tolerances” and are set for specific pesticides found on specific crops.

    Violators may face fines or other penalties. In one case, results found through DPR’s monitoring led to a $10,000 fine levied by the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office for illegal use of multiple pesticides on strawberries.

    In gathering produce samples, special emphasis is given to the types of produce commonly consumed by children. The department also prioritizes produce varieties with a history of illegal pesticide residues, produce originating from countries with past illegal-residue detections, and products often treated with pesticides listed under Proposition 65 as carcinogens or reproductive toxins.

    Information about DPR’s food safety program, plus past reports, can be found here.

    Watch this YouTube video on the residue monitoring program.

  • California Highlights 6 Leaders with Integrated Pest Management Achievement Awards

    On Thursday, Feb. 23, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) honored six leaders for their innovation and commitment to implementing integrated pest management (IPM) at the department’s annual IPM Achievement Awards ceremony.

    The IPM Achievement Awards celebrate organizations and individuals who are leading the adoption of IPM in California, including a program that supports underserved farmers and a Major League Baseball stadium. IPM is an approach to pest management that uses the least toxic, effective method to solve pest problems. IPM is a foundational element of the state’s approach to accelerate a systemwide transition to safer, more sustainable pest management in agriculture or in urban or wildland settings.

    The ceremony, hosted by DPR Director Julie Henderson, spotlighted the six awardees, and include remarks from California Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia; California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross; and representatives from state leadership and the Legislature.

    “Building on the foundation of effective integrated pest management approaches in urban and agricultural environments is critical to accelerating a statewide transition to sustainable practices,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “The awardees we are recognizing are leaders in the advancement of new tools and practices and expanding adoption of integrated pest management. They are valuable stewards of our state’s natural resources and an inspiration to future generations.”

    Recipients of the 2022 IPM Achievement Awards include:

    For training the next generation of IPM ambassadors in the strawberry industry

    Award winner: Cal Poly Strawberry Center

    The Cal Poly Strawberry Center advances IPM and sustainability in strawberry production through prolific research and outreach programs with a focus on plant pathology, entomology and labor automation. The center is conducting ongoing research to increase commercial beneficial predatory mite quality and improving the Lygus bug vacuum as alternatives to traditional pesticides. The center also provides IPM training for undergraduate and graduate students who plan to advance to positions within the strawberry industry and carry the center’s IPM and sustainability philosophy throughout California and beyond. Contact: Gerald Holmes.

    For managing weeds with IPM, prioritizing sustainability, field aesthetics and athletic safety

    Award winner: Oracle Park

    Oracle Park, located in San Francisco, is home of the San Francisco Giants. In the care of Major League Baseball (MLB) fields, managers typically have a low threshold for turf weeds to avoid player injury and to maintain the aesthetic quality of the field. Oracle Park invests in a unique sustainability-centered turf management approach with novel and innovative practices for weed management. The biological nutrition program focuses on soil and turf health to support high-quality, high-performance turf and to minimize and prevent turf pest problems. Innovative technologies such as drones, autonomous mowers, soil sensors and a sub air system to carefully control soil conditions are also used. Oracle Park’s unique sustainability-centered approach is a cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind IPM model for turf management at MLB parks. Contact: Greg Elliott.

    For using IPM to support safe human-wildlife interactions

    Award winner: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Human-Wildlife Conflicts Program (HWC)

    The Human-Wildlife Conflicts Program provides statewide best practices and training for conflicts and interactions between humans and wildlife. The program collects and analyzes wildlife incident data to identify conflict hotspots and conducts educational outreach activities in affected communities. Through their Wildlife Watch Program, integrated wildlife management plans, and other efforts, HWC makes substantial contributions in awareness and appreciation for wildlife in California by educating the public on integrated wildlife management techniques that support safe human-wildlife interactions. Contact: Victoria Monroe.

    For developing sustainability benchmarks to promote IPM adoption in wine growing

    Award winner: Vineyard Team

    Vineyard Team is an educational network that promotes sustainable vineyard growing practices and oversees the Sustainability In Practice (SIP) Certified Program. Vineyard Team’s outreach efforts include in-field trainings, podcasts and blogposts, and a Sustainable Ag Expo—all of which aim to bring together researchers, growers and decision-makers as a strong grower network promoting sustainability. The SIP Certified Program encourages vineyards and wineries to improve sustainability efforts by meeting rigorous certification standards that range from biological conservation and resource sustainability to social equity and continuing education. Currently, 42,000 acres of vineyards and wineries in California are SIP certified. Contact: Beth Vukmanic.

    For providing multilingual IPM resources to underserved growers

    Award winner: Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Program, Western Regional Office of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

    NCAT’s Western Regional Office provides multilingual support for underserved growers. NCAT’s ATTRA Program provides effective outreach and education to encourage and assist growers in adopting IPM practices in their fields or transitioning to organic production. Notable successes include informing growers about lower-risk pesticide options and providing hedgerow planting for beneficial insects. Contact: Martin Guerena.

    For a lifetime of IPM innovation, adoption and outreach in urban centers

    Award winner: Chris Geiger, Lifetime IPM Achievement Award

    Chris Geiger’s career has been dedicated to the promotion and adoption of IPM in a variety of California’s urban settings. From 2004 – 2022, Chris managed the San Francisco Department of the Environment’s Integrated Pest Management Program (SF IPM), where he guided IPM efforts that resulted in reduced pesticide use and publishing key IPM resources. Chris was a champion of the Rental Assistance Demonstration project, a collaborative project that aimed to renovate and decrease pest pressure and pesticide use in San Francisco’s public housing buildings. Chris has also co-authored “Pest Prevention by Design and Pest Prevention by Design – Landscapes,” which contains IPM strategies for preventing pests through structural or landscape design. Most recently, Chris was a member of the Sustainable Pest Management Work Group and Urban Subgroup, which was convened by DPR, California Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture last year to develop the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California. Chris’s support of peer networking and partnership has been a lifelong commitment and continues beyond the workplace. Contact: Chris Geiger.

    For more information about sustainable pest management or IPM, visit www.cdpr.ca.gov.

    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 pesticide regulatory system.  DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting pre- and post-registration scientific evaluations 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 use laws 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 pesticide safety information. DPR invests in innovative research and outreach and education to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices. More information about DPR can be found on our website.

  • CA DPR Invites Input on Development of Statewide Pesticide Notification System

    The public is invited next week to provide input into the development of a statewide system by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) that will notify the public in advance of pesticide applications occurring near where people live, work or play.

    The 2021-22 state budget allocated $10 million to DPR to begin the development of the tool, which will advance environmental justice and further protect public health by providing transparent and equitable access to information on the application of pesticides. This will, in turn, provide an opportunity for people to make their own decisions about any additional precautions they may want to take to protect their health.

    “Our goal is to increase transparency and provide equitable access to information about pesticide applications,” said DPR Acting Director Julie Henderson. “This will provide an opportunity for the public to make their own decisions about additional health precautions they want to take to protect themselves and their families. We believe this is also an opportunity to strengthen the engagement between DPR, County Agricultural Commissioners and the communities we serve.”

    The webinars are scheduled for:

    • Nov. 2 from 9-11:30 a.m. (English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation) and
    • Nov. 3 from 5:30-8 p.m. (Spanish with simultaneous English interpretation).

    Details are available on DPR’s website.

    The input gathered through this webinar series, in addition to focus group discussions conducted in August 2021 with community members, regulatory agencies, growers, and regulated industries, will inform DPR’s design and development of the system.

    DPR and the state’s 56 County Agricultural Commissioners work together to ensure compliance with pesticide laws and regulations, including operating strict enforcement programs, monitoring the use of restricted materials and fumigants, and penalizing illegal pesticide use. DPR’s current regulatory structure provides a strong and enforceable framework for the safe application of pesticides.

    “The development of this system will build on DPR and California’s existing regulatory framework, providing the public with the opportunity to receive a real-time notification about pesticide applications occurring nearby,” said Henderson.

    The development of this statewide system will include additional public workshops to collect input on the tool’s scope and design, development of a platform that is usable and accessible, and a formal regulatory process. The tool is anticipated to launch in 2023-24.

    To learn more about the development of the tool, see DPR’s website.

    To receive the latest updates via email, you can subscribe to DPR’s listserv.

    ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION

    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 review and 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 56 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, and 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.

  • Dress right for work – New UC IPM online course on PPE

    Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner. If you work in agricultural, turf, landscape, or structural settings, you are probably at your busiest. If you handle pesticides as part of your work, you most likely wear some sort of personal protective equipment (PPE). However, do you know if you are wearing the right type for the job that you do? Wearing the appropriate PPE, taking it off the right way, and correctly cleaning it prevents unnecessary pesticide exposure to yourself and others. Learn the steps so you don’t expose your family members or those around you to pesticide residues by viewing a brand new online course on Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment from the UC Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM).

    The course is approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for 1.5 hours in the Laws and Regulations category. This course is designed for all pesticide handlers with the goal to provide them with information on pesticide labels and the California Code of Regulations (CCR) to help them select, wear, remove, and dispose of or store PPE.

    In California, all pesticide handlers (applicators, mixers, loaders, those who transport pesticides, or those who fix application equipment) are legally required to wear PPE. However, in order to get the most protection from PPE, it must be used correctly. Violations involving the incorrect use of PPE were the second most commonly reported type of agricultural-use violation in 2017 as reported by DPR(PDF).

    The new PPE online course opens with a scenario describing a real example of an accident reported to DPR that led to an incident of pesticide exposure because the correct eye protection was not worn. The content that follows is divided into six instructional modules, highlighting types of PPE, how to select it, and when certain items should be worn. Answer short questions about the different types of PPE. Open pesticide labels to learn how to select the right PPE and learn when certain items should be worn. Short how-to videos and animated sequences demonstrate the proper way to put on or remove items such as gloves, coveralls, respirators, and eyewear. You must pass a final test with 70% or higher to receive your certificate of completion and continuing education hours.

    If this is the year to renew your license with DPR, get a jumpstart on it. Take this new course and all the other UC IPM online courses to refresh your knowledge and get the CEUs you need. There is a $30 fee for taking Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment. You are welcome to view the content for free on YouTube, but without the activities, final exam, and continuing education credit. For more information about license renewal, visit DPR.

  • California Announces Revised Proposed Rules on Agricultural Pesticide Use Near Schools and Child Day-care Centers

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 27, 2017) – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today released a revised proposal for regulating the use of agricultural pesticides near school sites and licensed child day care facilities. The department is inviting the public to comment on the revisions during a 15-day period.

    The revised draft regulation reflects extensive public input received during the most recent round of public review, which included three formal hearings and ended in December. The original proposal was issued in September 2016, after the department held a series of public workshops in five locations around the state.

    The proposed regulation would provide an extra measure of protection to public K-12 school sites and licensed child day care facilities from the risk of short-term pesticide exposure, and help increase communication between growers and school sites/licensed child day care facilities. It would also assist these sites in responding to inquiries and potential incidents.

    “We believe this regulation will provide Californians with probably the most robust protection in the nation for schoolchildren when agricultural pesticides are applied near their school,” said Brian Leahy, Director of DPR. “It simply makes it more difficult to create an unacceptable pesticide hazard at a school site.”

    The proposed regulation will affect about 3,500 public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities and involve approximately 2,500 growers in California. While many counties in California currently have varying requirements for notification of certain pesticide applications near schools, the proposed regulation would be the first statewide standard.

    The key revisions to the proposed regulation include:

    • Growers will not be required to notify school sites/licensed child day care facilities and the county agricultural commissioners (CACs) of pesticide applications made within a quarter mile of these facilities 48 hours before they occur. However, growers will still be required to provide annual notification of the pesticides expected to be applied within a quarter mile of these facilities. See example.
    • The revision also clarifies the definition of “school site” and other terms: For example, it makes clear that the regulations do not apply to school buses or vehicles not on school property, and that County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) may identify an adjacent park used regularly by schools on the weekdays as part of a school site.
    • The regulation is anticipated to become effective January 1, 2018.

    A summary of the highlights of the revised school regulation is available.

    Any interested person can submit written comments on the proposed revisions to the regulation between March 20, 2017 and 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2017 to dpr16004@cdpr.ca.gov. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to Ms. Linda Irokawa-Otani, Regulations Coordinator, Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, California 95812-4015. FAX: (916) 324-1491.

    Background

    The proposed regulation would:

    • Prohibit many pesticide applications within a quarter mile of public K-12 schools and child day care facilities from Monday through Friday between 6am and 6pm. These include all applications by aircraft, sprinklers, air-blast sprayers, and all fumigant applications. In addition, most dust and powder pesticide applications, such as sulfur, would be prohibited during this time.
    • Require California growers to annually notify public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities and the CAC about the pesticides expected to be used within a quarter mile of school sites and licensed child day care facilities.

    Each Annual Notification, PDF (846 kb) must list the pesticides expected to be used during the upcoming July through June period. This list must be provided to the school principal or child day care facility administrator by April 30 each year.

    The notice must include among other things:

    • The name of pesticide products (and the main active ingredient) to be used
    • A map showing the location of the field to be treated
    • Contact information for the grower/operator and the CAC
    • The website address for the National Pesticide Information Center where additional information on pesticides may be obtained

    The regulation also includes a provision that allows flexibility to accommodate extracurricular activities and other factors. Public K-12 schools /licensed child day care facilities and growers may develop alternative arrangements that provide equal or more protection than the regulation, but it must be in writing and approved by the CAC.

    More details on the regulation.

  • California Announces Revised Proposed Rules on Agricultural Pesticide Use Near Schools and Child Day-care Centers

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 22, 2017) – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released a revised proposal for regulating the use of agricultural pesticides near school sites and licensed child day care facilities.  The department is inviting the public to comment on the revisions during a 15-day period.

    The revised draft regulation reflects extensive public input received during the most recent round of public review, which included three formal hearings and ended in December. The original proposal was issued in September 2016, after the department held a series of public workshops in five locations around the state.

    The proposed regulation would provide an extra measure of protection to public K-12 school sites and licensed child day care facilities from the risk of short-term pesticide exposure, and help increase communication between growers and school sites/licensed child day care facilities. It would also assist these sites in responding to inquiries and potential incidents.

    We believe this regulation will provide Californians with probably the most robust protection in the nation for schoolchildren when agricultural pesticides are applied near their school. It simply makes it more difficult to create an unacceptable pesticide hazard at a school site.

    The proposed regulation will affect about 3,500 public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities and involve approximately 2,500 growers in California. While many counties in California currently have varying requirements for notification of certain pesticide applications near schools, the proposed regulation would be the first statewide standard.

    The key revisions to the proposed regulation include:

    Growers will not be required to notify school sites/licensed child day care facilities and the county agricultural commissioners (CACs) of pesticide applications made within a quarter mile of these facilities 48 hours before they occur. However, growers will still be required to provide annual notification of the pesticides expected to be applied within a quarter mile of these facilities.  See example

    The revision also clarifies the definition of “school site” and other terms: For example, it makes clear that the regulations do not apply to school buses or vehicles not on school property, and that County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) may identify an adjacent park used regularly by schools on the weekdays as part of a school site.

    The regulation is anticipated to become effective January 1, 2018.

    A summary of the highlights of the revised school regulation is available here .

    Any interested person can submit written comments on the proposed revisions to the regulation between March 20, 2017 and 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2017 to  dpr16004@cdpr.ca.gov. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to Ms. Linda Irokawa-Otani, Regulations Coordinator, Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, California 95812-4015. FAX: (916) 324-1491.

    The proposed regulation would:

    • Prohibit many pesticide applications within a quarter mile of public K-12 schools and child day care facilities from Monday through Friday between 6am and 6pm. These include all applications by aircraft, sprinklers, air-blast sprayers, and all fumigant applications. In addition, most dust and powder pesticide applications, such as sulfur, would be prohibited during this time.
    • Require California growers to annually notify public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities and the CAC about the pesticides expected to be used within a quarter mile of school sites and licensed child day care facilities.

    Each annual notification, PDF (846 kb) must list the pesticides expected to be used during the upcoming July through June period. This list must be provided to the school principal or child day care facility administrator by April 30 each year.

    The notice must include among other things:

    • The name of pesticide products (and the main active ingredient) to be used
    • A map showing the location of the field to be treated
    • Contact information for the grower/operator and the CAC
    • The website address for the National Pesticide Information Center where additional information on pesticides may be obtained

    The regulation also includes a provision that allows flexibility to accommodate extracurricular activities and other factors. Public K-12 schools /licensed child day care facilities and growers may develop alternative arrangements that provide equal or more protection than the regulation, but it must be in writing and approved by the CAC.

  • Moths, Leafhoppers, Wasps…Oh My! Six California Projects that Reduce Pesticide Use

    Sacramento, Calif., (January 26, 2017) – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) at a Jan. 26 award ceremony will recognize several organizations for projects aimed at managing pests while using fewer pesticides. The awards recognize innovation, leadership, education and outreach by California based organizations that carry out pest management.

    The six projects use integrated pest management (IPM) to manage pests, combining preventive and natural strategies such as releasing of parasitic insects and providing habitat for natural predators.

    “Integrated pest management is an important tool in today’s society. I am impressed with the honorees’ creativity in finding solutions to pest problems without an overreliance on chemical methods” said DPR Director Brian Leahy.

    Leahy will present the IPM Achievement Awards at 1:30 p.m. in the Sierra Hearing Room at the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, 1001 I St. in Sacramento.

    This year’s award-winning projects are:

    The Cherry Buckskin Project. Coordinated by the University of California Cooperative Extension, Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture and cherry growers, this project helps to prevent the establishment in Contra Costa County of cherry buckskin disease, which can wipe out entire orchards. It includes tree monitoring, removal of infected trees, and grower education, such as discouraging planting of ornamental plants that can host buckskin-disease-carrying insects called leafhoppers. Media interested in this project can contact Janet Caprile at jlcaprile@ucdavis.edu, or (925) 646-6129.

     

    Virginia Creeper Leafhopper Project. The UC Cooperative Extension and Fetzer Vineyards have teamed up to manage a pest known as a Virginia creeper leafhopper in Lake and Mendocino county vineyards. The project involves teaching growers to identify the insects and the use of IPM practices such as releasing tiny parasitic wasps. The wasps lay their eggs in leafhopper eggs, destroying them before they hatch. Media interested in this project can contact Glenn McGourty at gtmcgourty@ucanr.edu or (707) 463-4495.

    Riverside Unified School District IPM. This program trains custodians, food service workers, and teachers how to keep pests out of buildings, and to manage weeds and rodents without depending on regular pesticide sprays. The comprehensive program includes hiring an in-house IPM technician, continuous staff training, monthly custodial support meetings, and a class in green cleaning. The district has cut the number of cleaning products it uses, and has decreased pesticide use by approximately 70 percent. Media interested in this project can contact Eric Troxel at etroxel@rusd.k12.ca.us or (951) 377-2573.

    The Pink Bollworm Program. This project involves introducing sterile pink bollworm moths to fields to disrupt the pests’ ability to reproduce and spread in California’s main cotton-growing regions. The program reduces dependence on pesticides and has prevented pink bollworm moths from becoming established in California’s major cotton region without the use of conventional pesticides for more than 40 years. It is organized by the California Cotton Pest Control Board, California Department of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the National Cotton Council. Media interested in this project can contact Michelle Dennis at Michelle.Dennis@cdfa.ca.gov or (916) 262-1102.

    San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The airport authority is being recognized for its work with a pest control contractor and the University of California to educate employees and airport-based businesses on identifying, preventing, and reporting pest problems using a computer app. The program credited with decreasing the presence of rodents. Media interested in this project can contact Rebecca Bloomfield at rbloomfi@san.org or (619) 400-2880.

    San Luis Obispo County’s Project Apis m. This project funds honey bee research and education to protect bees. One undertaking provides almond growers with hedgerow seeds. The hedgerows provide habitat for bees as well as natural predatory insects beneficial in managing plant pests. Media interested in this project can contact Billy Synk at billy@projectapism.org or (614) 330-6932.

     

    If you plan to attend the award ceremony, you can find directions to the CalEPA building.

    The ceremony will be webcast at https://video.calepa.ca.gov.

    For more information, see our IPM Achievement Award web page.