California Ag Network

Tag: DPR

  • California DPR Proposes Regs for Tracking Reportable Pesticide Use Near Schools

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released proposed regulations to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 1864, signed by Governor Newsom on September 25, 2024, to require field identification and reporting on pesticide use near schools to provide greater transparency and ensure compliance with existing regulations that restrict agricultural pesticide use near schools and licensed child day care facilities.

    Effective Jan. 1, 2018, DPR adopted regulations to place restrictions on the application methods or timing used to apply pesticides to agricultural fields within 1/4 mile of a schoolsite, currently defined as a public K-12 school or licensed child day care facility. The regulations also require the operator of the agricultural field within 1/4 mile of a schoolsite to provide the schoolsite an annual notification of expected pesticide applications.

    The proposed regulations would require:

    •A separate site identification number for the portion of an agricultural field that lies within 1/4 mile of a schoolsite

    •Restricted material permit applications, notices of intent, and pesticide use reports for agricultural fields within 1/4 mile of a schoolsite to include the specific method of applying the pesticide

    •Notices of intent submitted for the use of California restricted materials on agricultural fields within 1/4 mile of a schoolsite to include allowable dates and time ranges during which the application can occur

    Additionally, the proposed regulations will expand existing restrictions to include private K-12 schools with an enrollment of 6 or more pupils.

    DPR has opened a public comment period on the proposed regulations through July 14, 2025. Comments may be submitted online through DPR’s public comment portal SmartComment, sent by email to regulations@cdpr.ca.gov, or by mail to:

    Lauren Otani, Regulations Coordinator

    Department of Pesticide Regulation

    1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015

    Sacramento, California 95812-4015

    The proposed regulations and rulemaking documents are now available at DPR’s Proposed and Recently Adopted Regulation webpage.

  • State Launches SprayDays California, Pesticide Application Notification System

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has launched SprayDays California, a first-of-its-kind statewide system designed to provide transparent, accessible and timely notifications and information about the use of specific pesticides, called “restricted material pesticides.” Restricted material pesticides are a category of pesticides subject to California’s strictest regulations, including requirements on where they can be used, who can use them and how they can be used.

    Accessible at cdpr.ca.gov/SprayDays, SprayDays California provides information online, and through email and text message notifications, 48 hours before the intended use of soil fumigants, a type of restricted material pesticide, and 24 hours before the intended use of other restricted material pesticides used on farms. Website visitors can search for scheduled applications anonymously using a map or enter any California postal address to view applications planned within a one-square-mile area. Users can also opt-in to notifications about scheduled applications near a specified address using a cell phone number or email address.

    “Managing pests—such as insects, rodents and weeds—is vital for protecting public health, the environment, the stability of our food supply and maintenance of our infrastructure,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “SprayDays California was developed through extensive public engagement to improve access to information and enhance understanding of California’s strong pesticide regulatory framework. This system is a significant step forward for DPR in fostering awareness and transparency. We look forward to continuing to refine SprayDays with feedback and engagement from all Californians.”

    SprayDays provides the location of applications in one-square-mile sections, which aligns with the location information that is submitted by growers or applicators prior to the use of a California restricted material pesticide. It also provides information about the pesticide product’s name, its active ingredients (the chemicals that make the pesticide work), the application method, the number of treated acres and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration number. SprayDays is also a resource for information on pesticide safety and how pesticides are regulated in California.

    Information on pesticide applications will be available on the website for four days following the scheduled date and time of the planned application. This timeframe reflects permitting program requirements, which allow growers or pesticide applicators to begin their application during that period, accommodating potential delays due to weather, changes in pest presence or the effectiveness of other pest management methods.

    How to Use SprayDays California

    To start, visit cdpr.ca.gov/SprayDays. To learn how to sign up for notifications view how-to videos or review step-by-step fact sheets.

    Additional Resources

    • Growers and Applicators: Review DPR’s fact sheet in English and Spanish for guidance on the regulatory requirement for electronic submission of Notices of Intent (NOI) prior to the use of a California restricted material pesticide in production agriculture.
    • Spread the Word: Access additional materials to share information about SprayDays California and California’s pesticide regulatory practices.


    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and regulating pesticides. 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 from pesticides, and enforcing pesticide use laws and 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. www.cdpr.ca.gov

  • DPR Seeks Comments on Modifications to Reg on Statewide Pesticide Application Notification System

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has released modifications to its proposed pesticide application notification regulation. Once in effect, the regulation will support the statewide implementation of a first-of-its-kind system to provide advance information on the planned applications of restricted material pesticides used in agriculture. Restricted materials are a highly regulated category of pesticides that have greater potential than other pesticides to cause harm to people, animals, the environment, or other crops. They require a county-issued permit for use and carry significant restrictions on how and where they can be used and who can use them.

    The department is seeking public comment on the proposed modifications to the regulation through a 30-day public comment period and three public hearings scheduled on July 12, 15 and 23.

    Following the close of the current public comment period, DPR will finalize the regulation and system design in preparation for statewide implementation of the pesticide application notification system in the first quarter of 2025.

    The department initially proposed the regulation on Nov. 3, 2023. The proposed regulation would support the statewide implementation of a notification system by requiring electronic submission of select information from Notices of Intent (NOIs) for permitted applications to DPR and requiring DPR to make the information it receives publicly available. NOIs are required before a permitted application of a restricted material pesticide. DPR will be required to provide information 48 hours prior to the intended start of a soil fumigation and 24 hours prior to the intended start of all other restricted material applications requiring a permit. NOIs, which are part of the state’s restricted material permitting process, are currently submitted to and must be approved by the local county agricultural commissioner before a restricted material pesticide can be used.

    DPR will submit the final regulation to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final review and approval.

    Additional details and the proposed revised regulation can be viewed on DPR’s website.

    Public Comment Opportunities on Proposed Modifications to the Regulation

    The department is holding a 30-day public comment period July 2 through Aug. 1 and three regulatory hearings on July 12, July 15 and July 23.

    The hearings and public comment period are to collect input on the proposed modifications to the notification regulation. The modifications were made after the initial public comment period, which was open for 70 days starting in November 2023 and included three regulatory hearings. Those proposed changes include:

    • The requirement for DPR to re-evaluate and review the system, including annually receive feedback from and provide a status update to the department’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s State Board and the public until DPR issues a comprehensive report on the system three years after the regulation becomes effective.
    • Clarifying the restricted material pesticides that are subject to the 24- and 48-hours reporting requirements.
    • Clarifying that DPR will make publicly available pesticide product name(s) and active ingredient(s).
    • Clarifying the effective date for the implementation of the system.

    A pre-hearing presentation on the regulation and proposed modifications and an overview and demonstration of the system design will begin at 6 p.m. prior to the start of each of the formal regulatory hearings and public comments. The formal regulatory hearings and public comments will begin at 6:30 p.m.

    All hearings will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation provided. Information on accommodations, including requesting interpretation in additional languages, can be viewed within the regulatory notice, available on DPR’s website.

    Stanislaus County Hearing

    • Date: July 12, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Carnegie Arts Center: 250 N Broadway, Turlock

    Virtual Hearing*

    • Date: July 15, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Zoom (virtual) hearing. You can login using this link prior to the start of the hearing. You will be prompted to enter an email address to join. This is a Zoom requirement.*
    • Link to join the meeting
    • View Only: The hearing will also be accessible via public webcast for persons who would like to watch this hearing without participating. Access the public webcast

    *If you are interested in hosting a hearing group with multiple people using one Zoom login, please email randi.jimenez@cdpr.ca.gov so we know that the login will represent multiple speakers and DPR can better capture feedback from all individuals in the group.

    Kern County Hearing

    • Date: July 23, 2024
    • Time: 6 p.m. presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m. regulatory hearing
    • Location: Shafter Youth Center: 455 E Euclid Ave, Shafter, CA 93263

    DPR is accepting written comments, which can be submitted online through the department’s public comment portal, by mail, or provided by email to dpr23003@cdpr.ca.gov, between July 2 through Aug. 1.

    Background on Development of the Notification System

    DPR began development of the statewide pesticide application notification system in 2021 with funding from the state budget to provide the public with advance information about pesticide applications. The department conducted a series of public webinars and workshops between 2021 and 2023 to collect feedback to inform the design and development of the system. In 2022, county agricultural commissioners in Riverside, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Ventura counties volunteered to partner with DPR to conduct local pilot projects to further inform the development of the statewide pesticide application notification system. In addition, between October 2023 and February 2024, DPR conducted a small group beta test of the proposed statewide notification system in Tulare County. A video demonstration of the system that was beta tested in Tulare County, called ”SprayDays California,” is available on the department’s YouTube channel.

    Feedback and input received from the public since 2021 informed many elements of the statewide notification system design, including:

    • Information on the pesticide application (available through the state’s existing restricted material permitting process), including:
      • Product name and chemical ingredient
      • Direct link to the product label
      • Intended application method
      • Intended date and time period the application may occur
      • Scale of the application, and
      • Context and information on how pesticides are regulated and evaluated in California to protect people and the environment, including specifically how restricted material pesticides are regulated.
    • An anonymous search function that allows users to search for pesticide application information without providing personal information.
    • A subscription function that allows users to receive email and text message “notifications” when an application is planned near a specific address; users may sign up to receive this information for multiple addresses.
    • Information provided in Spanish and English.
    • A public website and visual mapping tool that is easy to use on mobile devices.
    • User-centered design with graphic and visual content.
    • Information on community health and resources for finding more information on pesticide safety and health impacts from pesticide exposure including the phone number for the National Pesticide Information Center, which provides information on potential health impacts from pesticide exposure.

    The system will indicate the location of the pesticide application within a 1-square-mile area using the standardized Public Land Survey System data. The 1-square-mile Public Land Survey System location is the only location information used consistently in the restricted material permitting process across all California counties.

  • CA to Hold Public Workshops on Statewide Pesticide Application Notification System

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation will hold three public workshops on June 27, 28 and 29 to collect feedback to inform the next phase of design and development for the state’s pesticide application notification system.

    California will be the first state in the nation to develop a statewide system to provide the public more transparent and equitable access to information in advance of pesticide applications.

    The workshops will be hosted online via Zoom and facilitated by the UC Davis Center for Regional Change. Each workshop will follow the same format, including a brief overview of the proposed design for the statewide notification system and an opportunity for the public to provide input. The proposed system design has been informed by broad stakeholder feedback provided in public focus groups and webinars convened by DPR in 2021. The information collected during the workshops will further inform the design of the statewide notification system.

    The workshops will be held at the following times:

    Monday, June 27: 1-3 p.m.
    Tuesday, June 28: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
    Wednesday, June 29: 6-8 p.m.

    Registration is not required to attend. Spanish interpretation will be provided at all workshops. A copy of materials presented during the workshops will be made available on DPR’s website following the workshops.

    DPR began developing the statewide notification system in mid-2021, after the state budget allocated $10 million to DPR for system development.

    DPR has partnered with four County Agricultural Commissioners to launch pilot projects to inform the department’s development of the statewide system. These county-led pilot projects have launched in communities within Riverside, Stanislaus and Ventura counties. The Santa Cruz community pilot will launch this summer. The UC Davis Center for Regional Change will conduct independent evaluations of the pilot programs.

    For more information and updates on statewide notification, please visit DPR’s website.

    ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation protects human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to evaluate and register pesticides and monitor and regulate their sale and use across the state.

    DPR’s work includes conducting scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health and 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 400 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.

  • DPR Proposes Regulatory Restrictions on the Use of Neonicotinoids to Protect Bees

    In an effort to reduce risks to bees, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation filed an official notice of formal rulemaking as a first step in the regulatory process to limit how and when neonicotinoids can be used in agricultural settings.

    Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that are widely used as an alternative to chlorpyrifos, which DPR ended virtually all use of in 2020. At certain levels of exposure, neonicotinoids present risks to pollinators. DPR’s proposed regulations are based on extensive scientific studies and would create new requirements and restrictions for the use of neonicotinoid products containing any of four active ingredients: imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran. DPR estimates the regulations will impact 57 products currently registered in California and will reduce the amount of neonicotinoids applied across the state by approximately 45%.

    The regulations include tiered restrictions based on the chemical used, the type of crop and the time of year the neonicotinoid is applied in order to protect pollinator health. For example, applications to certain flowering plants that are attractive to bees would be prohibited when the plants are in bloom and when bees may be foraging. The regulations also set limits on applications of multiple neonicotinoids and what application methods may be used by growers. They also include an exemption for quarantine pests to provide the option, if necessary, to treat pests that can severely damage crops and food supply chains. The regulations address both risks to bees and ensures the protection of pollinators critical to growers and the agricultural sector.

    “DPR evaluates pesticides on an ongoing basis using the best available science and data to mitigate adverse impacts on ecosystems and the environment,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “Our neonicotinoid reevaluation led to the significant advance in pollinator protection reflected in our proposed regulation.”

    The department began re-evaluating imidacloprid and the related neonicotinoids, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran in 2009. DPR completed its scientific review in July 2018, publishing the California Neonicotinoid Risk Determination, and began development of control measures necessary to protect pollinator health. The department’s development of draft regulations included a pair of initial public webinars and a public comment period in 2020. The formal rulemaking process initiated by DPR today will include the opportunity for the public to submit written comments on the proposed regulations. For more information, see DPR’s Neonicotinoid Reevaluation webpage.

    “Our continuous evaluation of pesticides plays a critical role in accelerating a transition to safer, more sustainable pest management that protects the health of our communities, our pollinators and the environment as a whole,” said Henderson.

    As part of its regulatory mandate, DPR evaluates pesticide products for potential human health and environmental effects before they can be registered for legal sale and use in California. Prior to DPR review, pesticide products are evaluated and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).  U.S. EPA’s and DPR’s registration review and required pesticide label instructions – including application instructions and personal protective equipment requirements – are designed to mitigate potential risks to human health and the environment.

    DPR’s registration process includes the review of extensive scientific studies on human health and environmental impacts, safety and efficacy. After pesticide products have gone through this process and are registered, DPR also carries out a continuous evaluation process for pesticides following registration to take into account evolving scientific understanding. This continuous evaluation process can include formal reevaluation of pesticides and mitigation measures, as in the case of the neonicotinoids that are the subject of the department’s proposed regulation, conducting exposure studies, conducting human health risk assessments, monitoring air and water for pesticides, and investigating information that indicates a pesticide may have caused an adverse effect on human health or the environment. Pesticides currently undergoing DPR’s re-evaluation process are listed on the department’s website and the results inform state-specific restrictions, mitigation measures or conditions for use.

    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 regulate the sale and use of pesticides across the state.

    DPR’s work includes conducting scientific evaluation 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 400 field inspectors. DPR invests in innovative research 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 can be found at www.cdpr.ca.gov.

  • 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.

  • State Warns Organic Farmers to Stop Using W.O.W. Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro Pesticides

    The state is warning organic farmers against the use of pesticides labeled as W.O.W Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro distributed by EcoMIGHT, as lab tests show that these products labeled as organic, natural and glyphosate-free do in fact contain potentially hazardous chemicals.

    Today, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) issued a notice to EcoMIGHT, LLC, a Florida-based company, that it may be in violation of state law by manufacturing, delivering or selling unregistered pesticide products in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued a Stop Use Notice for organic growers about EcoMIGHT products. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) also notified EcoMIGHT that it may be in violation of federal law.

    EcoMIGHT currently markets its products as “organic,” “natural,” “glyphosate-free,” and “non-toxic and safe.” However, state laboratory analyses of W.O.W. Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro products sold in California found that the products tested contain potentially hazardous chemicals including glyphosate, bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, and carbaryl. California registered pesticides that contain these chemicals go through scientific review and have specific requirements for use and personal protective equipment that protect workers, communities and the environment from harmful pesticide exposure. W.O.W Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro do not contain these safety instructions.

    “It is critical that we notify California employers, workers and residents, who may be using EcoMIGHT products about these safety concerns to prevent potential injury,” said DPR acting director Julie Henderson. “This includes ensuring pesticides are properly registered and labeled so you know if you are handling benign ingredients or need to use protective equipment – like gloves, goggles or respirators.”

    The synthetic chemical compounds CDFA laboratory analysis found in W.O.W. Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro products are prohibited for use in organic production by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. Additionally, these products pose a public health risk because the products were found to contain hazardous chemicals not disclosed on their labels.

    “It is imperative that we alert California organic growers that these EcoMIGHT products contain substances that are prohibited in organic production, in order to preserve the integrity of the California organic label and to protect our growers,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

    DPR and CDFA investigations began in San Diego and Ventura Counties in June 2021, when local County Agricultural Commissioners alerted state agency partners of a potential concern with the EcoMIGHT products. CDFA’s Sacramento lab analyzed samples and DPR, CDFA and additional state and federal regulators are reviewing the lab analyses for potential state and federal violations.

    In addition to actions taken by California state agencies, U.S. EPA notified EcoMIGHT that it may be in violation of federal law by manufacturing, distributing or selling unregistered pesticide products. As part of its enforcement of the law, U.S. EPA registers pesticide products and approves label language before a pesticide can be sold or distributed. The agency’s goal is to provide clear directions for effective product performance while minimizing risks to human health and the environment.

    If you are aware of illegal pesticide use or concerned about potential illness from pesticide exposure, please report your concerns immediately to 1-87PestLine (1-877-378-5463), anonymously report using DPR’s mobile app CASPIR or reach out directly to your County Agricultural Commissioner.

    Read DPR’s Notice of Advisement to EcoMIGHT, PDF
    Read CDFA’s Stop Use Notice, PDF

  • Help Needed: Identifying Telone Application Sites this Fall/Late Winter

    The Almond Alliance has been meeting with Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on their initiated 1,3-D pilot programs in three areas of the state:  Shafter, Kern County; Parlier, Fresno County; Delhi, Merced County. The objective of the pilot programs is to evaluate growers and applicators with alternative methods of achieving emission reductions of 1,3-D comparable to tarping. DPR put forth 13 proposed mitigation measures including buffer zones, TIF tarping, soil moisture depth, water seals, amended injection depths and more.

    The Almond Alliance has been engaged in numerous discussions with DPR on this issue and has mobilized our membership to provide feedback and have detailed discussions on why several of the proposed options are not procedurally and economically feasible. We have been clear that our industry needs this fumigant for treatment of nematodes during the replanting of almond trees.

    In August of this year, the Almond Alliance submitted a detailed letter to DPR summarizing the almond industry’s concern about the proposed pilot options and why several should not be considered at all.  To review letter, CLICK HERE.

    DPR has asked that we identify 2 to 3 orchards to evaluate during replanting this fall/spring and will be applying Telone as a soil fumigant. Would you be willing to have your site be a part of an assessment of some fumigant off-gassing reduction measures that DPR would like to assess? If yes, or even if you think your site might not meet the DPR criteria, you should speak with the Almond Alliance and DPR. An ideal orchard is one with no other surrounding orchards, specifically upwind/downwind as DPR needs to have space for the equipment to measure what is emitted into the air.

    While some wanted DPR to move to additional regulation of Telone right away based on the air monitoring data, DPR decided to do some “pilot studies”, partially buying a bit of time. In the process, DPR realized that they needed additional field monitoring data on the off gassing of Telone under different conditions to improve their models, as well to assess the off-gassing if some new mitigation measures were employed. Thus, the hunt for appropriate sites with good grower cooperators.  However, if additional sites with growers willing to cooperate cannot be found, DPR will move forward regulating based on the limited data they already have. That will lead to a significant increase in locations where Telone cannot be used and/or only with the use expensive TIF tarps.

    The proposed emissions mitigation measures include:

    • Getting soil moisture in the top 6-9 inches to 70% water holding capacity as a water seal.
    • Injection the fumigant at 24-28 inches rather than at 18 inches.
    • Mixture of one of the above and strip TIF tarps.

    ​​​​​​​If your site meets the desired conditions – particularly no orchard immediately adjacent to the location and you are willing, we are asking that you discuss the possibility with your soil fumigant applicator company and contact Elaine Trevino at 209-300-7140.

  • Western Growers Statement on California DPR Ban on Chlorpyrifos

    In response to yesterday’s announcement that the California Department of Pesticide Residue (DPR) is acting to ban the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:

    “California farmers are universally committed to the safety of their food, the health of their workers and communities, and the sustainability of their land. At every turn, they strive to achieve efficiencies in their use of resources like water, fertilizer and pesticides, and seek to minimize both the human and environmental impacts of these inputs.”

    “California farmers also face the most stringent regulatory environment in the world, one that often limits their access to many of the tools still available to farmers elsewhere in the U.S. and in foreign countries, including certain types of pesticides. Indeed, over the last 20 years, California regulatory actions have removed several of the most important crop protection tools farmers rely on to fight pests and diseases.”

    “With yesterday’s announcement that DPR will initiate the cancellation of chlorpyrifos, one of the most widely studied and globally approved insecticides, California farmers now stand to lose yet another arrow in their quiver – without effective and ready replacement tools – making their quest to grow the safest, healthiest and most abundant food supply in the world even more difficult.”

    “California farmers are resilient, but the long-term viability of our farms in California depends on proper support from the Administration and renewed cooperation of the state’s regulatory agencies, especially in light of the many other unique and expensive regulations that place California farmers at a growing competitive disadvantage.”

    About Western Growers:

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

  • 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.