California Ag Network

Tag: Sustainable Pest Management

  • Project in Santa Cruz Co. Explores Alternative to Soil Fumigation

    The Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner (CAC) is initiating a $175,000 pilot project funded by the California DPR to use steam as an alternative to pre-plant fumigation, advancing work to foster the availability and adoption of sustainable pest management in California.

    The pilot project, led by CAC David Sanford, resulted from conversations with community groups interested in exploring fumigant alternatives near certain sensitive, community-serving locations such as schools. As part of the pilot, several berry producers in the Pajaro Valley will test the use of steam in lieu of conventional pre-plant soil fumigation starting this summer. Research will continue into next year.

    “This pilot represents an important collaboration to meet the needs of communities and growers in California,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “DPR is pleased to support efforts that encourage local partnerships, drive innovations in alternatives, and advance sustainable pest management.”

    Steam treatment for pest management involves injecting high temperature steam into the soil before planting. The heat helps reduce certain soil-borne pests, plant diseases, nematodes, and weed seeds. The test fields will be selected for the pilot project based on their proximity to schools or other sensitive sites to explore this potential alternative to help reduce the use of field fumigants near communities.

    DPR recently released findings from an independent study on alternatives to pre-plant fumigants that documented that no existing alternative can currently serve as a direct substitute for chemical fumigants on a wide scale. The study identified the need for more research to understand the soil and climate conditions where alternatives can be effective.

    “This project provides an opportunity to further assess soil steaming as a potential alternative to conventional pre-plant soil fumigation,” Sanford said. “We’re pleased to support this collaborative effort by helping inform the public, facilitating community engagement, and contributing to the evaluation of a promising technology in sustainable pest management.”

    The Santa Cruz CAC and members of Safe Ag Safe Schools (SASS) brought the project to DPR for funding consideration. The CAC will collaborate with a University of California researcher, industry partners, berry growers and landowners, community members, and adjacent sensitive-site representatives on the pilot.

    “The Pajaro Valley has some of the most concentrated use of fumigants in the state, including near schools and homes,” said Kathleen Kilpatrick, SASS member and retired school nurse. “SASS members support exploring non-chemical alternatives on fields near schools. We hope these pilot projects will provide tools for pesticide reduction and expansion of organic buffers.”

    The Santa Cruz CAC will hold community outreach meetings throughout the pilot period, where people can ask questions, provide feedback, and offer input. The first community meeting will take place Aug. 18at 5:30 p.m. in the Greg Caput Community Room of the South County Government Center, 500 Westridge Dr., Watsonville. More information can be found on the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s website

  • DPR Announces Voluntary Cancellation of Paraquat Products

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced that all manufacturers of pesticide products containing the active ingredient paraquat-dichloride (paraquat) have voluntarily cancelled their product registrations, beginning the phase-out of the use of paraquat in California.

    “For years, communities have fought to end the use of paraquat, a weedkiller associated with negative impacts to human health and wildlife,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia. “California will keep moving toward pest management practices that protect health and our ecosystems.”

    DPR initiated the reevaluation of paraquat in November 2024, aligning with requirements in Food & Agricultural Code (FAC) section 14086, and released two preliminary scientific assessments the following month. DPR’s preliminary reports identified a potential association between paraquat exposure and thyroid impacts and birth defects. The reports also indicated paraquat may adversely affect other organisms, with the most significant risks to birds.

    “We need the right data to identify where there are risks to people and the environment,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “This is a cornerstone of our continuous evaluation process to respond to evolving science on the impacts of pesticides.”

    Reevaluation gives DPR the authority to require registrants – the companies that make pesticides – to develop and submit new scientific studies needed to fully understand emerging risks that were unknown at the time of registration.  For paraquat, DPR invoked this reevaluation authority to require registrants to submit scientific data by June 5, 2026, to address newly identified gaps in DPR’s human health toxicology database, among other requirements. In lieu of providing required data, companies began voluntarily cancelling registration of paraquat pesticide products in California in April, with the last registrant voluntarily cancelling its registration on Aug. 6.

    Under California law, DPR-licensed dealers may continue to possess and sell pesticides that were voluntarily canceled for up to two years following the effective date of each product’s cancellation. Growers who continue to use these products must act in accordance with all applicable label directions, use requirements, and state and federal regulations.

    Paraquat reevaluation is part of a series of actions at the department to continuously evaluate and mitigate pesticide impacts. Status updates for other actions and pesticide active ingredients and classes under evaluation can be found on DPR’s Continuous Evaluation and Mitigation Update webpage.

    DPR provides funding to research alternatives to pesticides and to increase access to safe, effective sustainable pest management (SPM) through its annual SPM Grants program. The 2027 priority areas include projects that are likely to decrease usage of pesticides prioritized for mitigation or evaluation by DPR, such as paraquat, and those that offer alternatives to weed management. The current application period is open through Sept. 1.

    “To realize systemwide change in California, DPR plays a critical role in supporting additional research and outreach to move the state towards safer, more sustainable pest management approaches,” said Director Morrison. “As growers transition from the use of paraquat, the department will leverage available tools to support the use of effective alternatives and foster SPM.”

    — Story contributed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation

  • DPR Releases Findings from Fumigant Alternatives Study

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released the fourth and final component of a multi-part study exploring alternatives to fumigant pesticides. The last report focused on the risks and benefits of pre-plant fumigants.

    The research conducted by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) specifically looked at methyl bromide and three pesticides known as MITC generators – dazomet, metam-sodium, and metam-potassium. Similar to the findings from CCST’s previous reports, this report found that, while alternatives exist, there is no single alternative that can be used as a 1:1 substitute for methyl bromide or MITC generators. In particular, the cost and effectiveness of alternatives remain a significant barrier for growers. More crop- and region-specific research is needed to determine the efficacy of alternatives at commercial scale.

    “DPR has made a strong commitment to sustainable pest management and finding alternatives to fumigants,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “We will continue to prioritize actions to protect human health and the environment through research and innovation.”

    Both methyl bromide and MITC generators are restricted material pesticides in California – a group of high-risk pesticides that are strictly regulated to protect public health and the environment.

    Methyl bromide is a soil fumigant that has been largely phased out of use in routine agriculture under the Montreal Protocol because of its ozone-depleting properties. The U.S. EPA only allows its use in a few circumstances – primarily for quarantine and pre-shipment of commodities, imported goods, and nursery propagation to prevent the introduction and/or spread of pests across borders. MITC generators are used to protect timber from rot and to reduce the spread of soil-borne pests between crop seasons.

    DPR commissioned the independent study following the release of the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap to evaluate fumigant use and existing alternatives with funding from the California Budget Act of 2023-24. CCST’s reports focused on soil fumigants 1,3-D and chloropicrin, alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride, and post-harvest commodity fumigation.

    DPR has also created two new committees to support implementation of the SPM Roadmap.

    • The SPM Advisory Committee advises DPR on goals, tactics, policies, and partnerships that support the implementation of SPM statewide.
    • The Scientific Prioritization and Review Committee (SPARC) will provide science-based recommendations to inform DPR’s transparent, data-driven process for identifying and addressing potential risks to human health and the environment from pesticide use.

    DPR is also prioritizing alternatives to fumigants in its annual pool of SPM grant funding. For example, in May, DPR awarded over $600,000 to a project to evaluate the application of different combinations of soil fumigant alternatives.

  • CDFA Accepting Proposals for Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program

    The CDFA’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is now accepting concept proposals for its Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Grant Program (BIFS). The BIFS grant program funds on-farm demonstration and evaluation of innovative, biologically based farming systems that employ sustainable pest management (SPM) strategies. These practices aim to reduce reliance on biologically disruptive pesticides while allowing growers to maintain yields and economic sustainability.

    Past BIFS projects have refined and promoted SPM practices such as areawide mating disruption, biological control via natural enemy releases and habitat planting, non-fumigant soil disinfestation, removing diseased plants, bio-pesticides and more across cropping systems.    

    The 2026-2027 Request for Proposals (RFP) identifies five priority funding areas based on recent or proposed regulatory actions and grower needs:

    • Areawide management
    • Monitoring that informs pest management
    • Post-harvest disease control
    • Neonicotinoid alternatives in tomato
    • Paraquat alternatives

    OPCA does not require BIFS project proposals to address one of the priority topics.

    This funding cycle includes $2 million in available grant funding, with up to $1 million per project. A portion of OPCA’s allocation of the pesticide mill assessment funds this solicitation.

    Following review of concept proposals, OPCA will notify applicants in late July 2026 and invite selected applicants to develop and submit a full proposal. Full proposals are due at the end of August 2026.

    Concept proposals are due by June 30 at 5 p.m. Public or private colleges and universities, local, state, and federal government entities including tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and commodity groups are eligible to apply. The project lead(s) and their institutions must be based in California.

    Detailed information, including the application process and requirements, is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca/bifs.html. — Story contributed by the California Department of Food and Ag

  • American Pistachio Growers Awarded $1 Million for Regional Pest Management Collaboration

    American Pistachio Growers (APG), in collaboration with Washington State University, University of California – Riverside, UC Cooperative Extension, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and regional nut industry partners, has been awarded a $1 million grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Program to develop a Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) network for Navel Orangeworm (NOW) — the most damaging pest in California’s tree nut industry.

    The project, led by Dr. Houston Wilson (UC Riverside), Dr. David Crowder (WSU), Dr. Jhalendra Rijal (UC IPM), and Dr. Charles Burks (USDA ARS) will pilot a groundbreaking Decision Aid System (DAS) that integrates real-time trap data, weather models, and crop phenology into a single communication platform. The goal is to improve the timing and precision of pest control decisions while fostering regional cooperation among almond, pistachio, and walnut growers.

    “This project moves us beyond the farm gate,” said Joe Coelho, APG’s Director of Sustainability and Member Outreach, who serves as Technical Agronomist and PCA on the project. “For the first time, growers across commodities will have access to shared regional data and communication tools that allow them to anticipate pest pressure before it hits their fields and ultimately make precise, timely treatment decisions. The outcome is fewer sprays, lower costs, and higher quality nuts.”

    Through field-level data acquisition, the system’s meta-analytics will identify regional flight trends coupled with crop-specific phenological development and enhance forecasting of NOW flights — critical steps in breaking the pest’s lifecycle across neighboring farms. Ultimately, the program is expected to help reduce pesticide use, improve nut quality, and lower aflatoxin risk associated with pest damage.

    APG will serve as the grower administration partner, coordinating grower participation and outreach. Carlee Branco, APG Grant Programs Administrator, will conduct on-farm grower coordination, engagement and data collection. “This is a major milestone for sustainable pest management,” said Coelho, “and it demonstrates APG’s leadership in advancing research that directly benefits growers.”

    The Regional IPM for Navel Orangeworm Project represents a pivotal step toward the state’s Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap by providing a scalable, data-driven framework that can be expanded statewide.

    “This is exactly the kind of innovation California agriculture needs,” said Dr. Wilson. “Regional coordination is essential to long-term pest reduction, especially for highly mobile insects like the navel orangeworm, and this project will now put those ideas into practice at scale.”

    The program launches in early 2026, with pilot regions in West Fresno County and Modesto, serving as the foundation for a future statewide expansion. Growers within these territories who are interested should contact Carlee Branco for more information at cbranco@americanpistachios.org.

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 800 growers and processors across California, Arizona, and New Mexico. APG’s mission is to enhance grower profitability through global marketing, industry research, and sustainability initiatives that promote economically viable and environmentally responsible pistachio production.

  • State of the California Pest Control Adviser

    Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) in California are some of the brightest and versatile in the nation. They each generally cover a wide spectrum of crops grown under a many different conditions and pest challenges.  Watch this brief interview with Ruthann Anderson, President and CEO of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers, as she discusses the current State of the California Pest Control Adviser, as well as an opportunity for PCAs and their growers to get grant funding to tell their IPM stories. Learn more and apply at: https://capca.com/memberships/#study

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