California Ag Network

Tag: The California Department of Pesticide Regulation

  • 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 Launches CalPEST to Modernize and Streamline Pesticide Registration Process

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has launched a highly anticipated, modernized, online system to streamline the department’s pesticide registration process.

    The California Pesticide Electronic Submission Tracking (CalPEST) system will reduce the time associated with the processing of registration actions, improve transparency into DPR’s evaluation and registration process, and facilitate approval of safer alternatives needed to transition California to more-sustainable pest management.

    Specifically, CalPEST will improve the department’s registration process by:

    • Increasing internal efficiency by allowing for the simultaneous review of data submitted with an application by multiple scientific programs to evaluate ecotoxicology, chemistry, microbiology, plant physiology, pest and disease protection, human health risks, surface water, groundwater and air quality risks, and risks to worker health and safety.
    • Improving registration transparency and communication with pesticide registrants by providing a central location for real-time status updates and improvements to the type of information on timelines for the department’s scientific evaluation and application processing

    Streamlining the state’s registration process is identified as a priority action in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. The roadmap, which was developed by a cross-sector, diverse work group and was released by DPR in January 2023, includes a series of recommended interconnected actions to achieve the goal of replacing high-risk priority pesticide uses with sustainable pest management practices.

    Improving and streamlining DPR’s pesticide registration and evaluation programs will facilitate and accelerate the availability of lower-risk products, practices and technologies to reduce the use of high-risk pesticides.

    “The launch of CalPEST is a historic milestone for DPR in our work to modernize and streamline our registration process and increase transparency into how we evaluate and register pesticides before they can be used or sold in California,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson, adding that the system reflects the department’s core values of accountability and continuous improvement.

    Additional functionality and support for CalPEST is planned for implementation in spring 2025.

    For more information on CalPEST, see DPR’s website.

    About Pesticide Registration

    All pesticides must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for use anywhere in the U.S. U.S. EPA evaluates every pesticide product to ensure it won’t harm human health or the environment. Approved products available for sale are labeled with instructions for safe use.  In California, DPR also evaluates pesticide products before registering them for sale or use in California to ensure the instructions and precautions on the label protect human health and the environment with a focus on California-specific uses. DPR can reject a product or approve it with more restrictive conditions than U.S. EPA.

    More information: 1-2-3 steps How California registers pesticides

    Who We Are

    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 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, investing in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, conducting outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.

  • $1.9M in Grants for Innovation, Adoption of Sustainable Ag Pest Management in CA

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced that it is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in available funding for integrated pest management (IPM) projects that support a statewide transition to sustainable pest management. The funding is available through DPR’s 2025 Research and Alliance Grants programs.

    IPM is an approach to pest management that uses the least-toxic, most-effective method to solve pest problems. Sustainable pest management (SPM) builds on the existing practices of IPM to incorporate broadened considerations of human health and social equity, environmental protections, and economic viability in pest management decisions and practices through the state’s urban, agricultural and wildland settings.

    “Pest management is essential to protecting public health, supporting stable, healthy food production, and maintaining our infrastructure,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said. “Our grants fund innovative research into a broad range of safe, sustainable pest management alternatives and the outreach, practical training and support needed for their adoption.”

    The 2025 Research and Alliance Grants programs are seeking projects that address one or more of the following priority topic areas:

      • IPM resources for underserved or disadvantaged communities or for small growing operations.
      • Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (including carcinogens, cholinesterase inhibitors, fumigants, groundwater contaminants, reproductive toxins and toxic air contaminants).
      • 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 Roadmap.

    In the past 20 years, DPR grant programs have awarded more than $27 million to over 105 projects that advance the use of IPM and expand adoption of more sustainable methods for managing pests to protect people and the environment. Previous Research and Alliance Grant projects include:

        • Developing an IPM apprenticeship program for urban pest management professionals.
        • Evaluating the use of stable antimicrobial peptides for control of Pierce’s disease and citrus greening disease.
        • Refining and promoting the use of a model IPM approach for affordable housing providers to control rodents and cockroaches.

    The 2025 Research Grants Program will award projects up to three years in length that develop more sustainable pest management tools and practices to reduce the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest or otherwise 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. 19, 2024.

    The 2025 Alliance Grants Program will award projects up to three years in length that promote or increase sustainable pest management though the implementation, expansion and/or adoption of effective, proven and affordable IPM systems or practices. Project budgets may range from $50,000 to $400,000. Alliance Grant applications will be accepted through Nov. 21, 2024.

    For more information on the Alliance Grants and Research Grants Programs, including how to apply, please visit DPR’s Grants website.

    For more information about the state’s transition to sustainable pest management, visit DPR’s website Accelerating Sustainable Pest Management: A Roadmap for California.

    Who We Are

    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 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, investing in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, conducting outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agricultural Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.

  • 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.

  • DPR Seeks to Bar Bakersfield Pilot from Applying Pesticides After Drift Incidents

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has asked a Kern County judge to halt pesticide applications by a Bakersfield-area aerial pesticide business accused of several illegal drift incidents that harmed at least one person and damaged property. Defendants in the complaint, filed on Sept. 29, include John A. Slykerman and his company, Agra Fly Inc.

    DPR is seeking a court order barring Slykerman from conducting aerial pesticide applications. It also seeks various civil penalties.

    “The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is taking immediate action against Slykerman and Agra Fly for their repeated illegal actions that have injured people and property,” said DPR Assistant Director Ken Everett. “DPR’s quick action is needed to prevent further egregious violations.”

    The complaint focuses on six separate alleged drift incidents. In each case, the complaint says, the drift was a violation of both pesticide label requirements and California regulations. In addition, the complaint notes Slykerman does not have a current FAA-approved medical certificate, which is required to aerially apply pesticides.

    The agricultural commissioners’ offices in Kern and Tulare counties investigated Slykerman’s drift violations and sought DPR’s collaboration to bring a coordinated enforcement action. California’s 55 agricultural commissioners investigate pesticide violations and partner with DPR to enforce pesticide use laws and regulations.

    “We take drift incidents very seriously and immediately investigate them,” said Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Tom Tucker. “Our investigators work closely with DPR to enforce our state laws and pesticide use requirements that keep Californians safe.”
    Incidents of damaging drift alleged in the complaint include:

    Arvin/Lamont Drift. On Sept. 2, 2023, Slykerman and Agra Fly were involved in a drift incident near the Kern County communities of Arvin and Lamont. The pesticide was being applied to an almond orchard and reportedly drifted onto people and property nearby. The investigation is ongoing.

    Shafter Drift. On May 11, 2023, Slykerman was aerially applying pesticides to a cherry orchard near Shafter. The Kern County agricultural commissioner received a complaint that pesticides from the application had drifted onto a neighboring property. The Kern County agricultural commissioner investigated the incident and issued a fine to Agra Fly.

    Lindsay Road Drift. On March 31, 2023, Slykerman was aerially applying pesticides to a field near Lindsay Road, south of Bakersfield. The Kern County agricultural commissioner received a complaint that pesticides from the application had drifted onto a neighboring property and onto a person. The Kern County agricultural commissioner investigated the incident and issued a fine to Agra Fly.

    Porterville Drift. On Jan. 23, 2023, Slykerman was aerially applying pesticides to an orange orchard near Porterville, southeast of Tulare. The pesticides reportedly drifted onto a nearby field and person, who reported symptoms of pesticide exposure including burning sensation on skin and nausea. The property owner’s tangerine trees were also reportedly damaged.

    Famoso Hills Drive Drift. On Jan. 21, 2023, a pilot was applying pesticides near Famoso Hills Drive, north of Bakersfield. The pesticide drifted onto nearby pastureland, damaging it. The Kern County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office investigated and issued fines to both Slykerman and Agra Fly.

    Bear Mountain Boulevard Drift. On Sept. 24, 2022, a pilot associated with Agra Fly was applying pesticides near Bear Mountain Boulevard, south of Bakersfield. An investigation by the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office found that a pesticide drifted onto a nearby pistachio site, damaging the trees.

    “Defendants’ activities are a public nuisance that endanger the life, well-being and property of the community around their applications. Each day that Defendants conduct aerial pesticide applications, the significant threat to the community exists,” the complaint states, urging the court’s intervention.

    For more information, you can read a copy of the complaint on DPR’s website.

    ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 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 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.

  • 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.

  • $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.

  • New Report Finds 97% of Fruits and Vegetables Sampled in CA Meet Pesticide Safety Standards

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today released a report finding that 97% of fruits and vegetables sampled within the state in 2021 met federal pesticide safety standards.

    The 2021 California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report shows that 97% of domestically grown and imported produce samples collected in 2021 had either no detectable pesticide residues or had residues within the allowable federally-established tolerances. In addition, more than 98% of produce samples labeled as “grown in California” had no residues or tolerances that exceeded allowable levels. These results, compiled annually, are consistent with the department’s last several years of produce residue monitoring, and reflect the strength of California’s pesticide regulatory program and compliance with it.

    The 2021 report’s findings are based on 3,444 produce samples collected by the department at approximately 500 locations.

    The pesticide residue monitoring program supports DPR’s mission to protect people and the environment. Federally established tolerances identify the maximum allowable residue level of a specific pesticide on food that provides a ‘reasonable certainty of no harm.’

    “DPR’s produce monitoring program is the largest and longest-running state program for testing fruits and vegetables for illegal pesticide residues,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said. “With a focus on food eaten by children, as well as the state’s diverse ethnic communities, this program helps protect all Californians from pesticide residues on both domestic and imported produce.”

    DPR scientists throughout the year visit food distribution centers, stores and outdoor markets to collect samples of foreign and domestically grown produce. The samples are tested by California Department of Food and Agriculture labs for more than 500 pesticide residues and breakdown products.

    U.S.-grown produce continues to have significantly fewer illegal pesticide residues than imported produce. Imported produce accounted for nearly 77% of illegal pesticide residue samples. Of the imported commodities sampled, cactus pads and fruit originating from Mexico continue to show high percentages of illegal pesticide residues.

    When illegal residues are detected, DPR investigators trace the suspect crop through its lines of trade – from store shelves, to shippers, importers or growers. Tainted products and crops are quarantined and subject to reconditioning, such as washing to remove residues, or potential destruction In addition to potentially losing their inventory, growers and distributors whose produce exceeds tolerances can face fines and other penalties.

    During 2021, DPR issued 120 quarantine notices for more than 70,000 pounds of produce carrying illegal pesticide residues. In addition, DPR referred 22 cases of illegal California-grown samples to local County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) for investigation of potential illegal pesticide uses. CACs issued statutory fines against growers in instances where produce sources were able to be identified.

    As part of enforcement activities, DPR staff provide guidance to growers and importers for ways to prevent sales of illegal produce.

    For previous reports and more information about the department’s residue testing program, please visit the Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program’s webpage.

    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 Agricultural 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.

  • DPR Awards $3.15M in Research Grants Investing in Safer, Sustainable Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit IPM

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation today announced it has awarded $3.15 million in research grants to seven projects to support a statewide, systemwide transition to safer and more sustainable pest management.

    DPR’s Research Grants Program funds projects that advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge, tools and practices in agricultural, urban and wildland settings. IPM is a pest management approach that uses the least-toxic, effective method to solve pest problems.

    Over the past decade, DPR has awarded more than $13.45 million in research grants.

    “These grants are a cornerstone of DPR’s mission to advance sustainable pest management and continuously improve the state’s protection of people and the environment,” said DPR Director Julie Henderson. “These projects play a central role in developing alternative approaches to pest management that support agriculture, enable the production of an abundant, healthy food supply, and support the well-being of all California communities.”

    In January 2023, DPR released the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap, which outlines critical goals and actions to accelerate the transition to sustainable pest management.

    Among the projects funded this year, two seek to reduce fumigant use while three others could help decrease farmers’ reliance on neonicotinoids and other pesticides. Fumigants – gaseous pesticides used in agriculture to kill soilborne pests – are a concern because they are often highly toxic and can impact surrounding air. Neonicotinoids are also a concern since they have been linked to pollinator deaths.

    Other grant-funded projects seek to reduce human health effects of spray applications, and to provide effective alternatives to traditional pesticides.

    Award recipients:

    Research projects supporting alternatives to fumigant use:

    • Dr. Cassandra Swett will advance understanding of the emerging fungal pathogen Fusarium falciforme, which affects a range of California crops and drives high-risk fumigant usage. Dr. Swett’s project will seek to evaluate a variety of potential reduced-risk control strategies for this pathogen in lieu of fumigation.
    • Dr. Andreas Westphal will research soils that suppress root lesion nematode in almonds. These efforts will ideally offer alternatives to the current usage of soil fumigants to control these microscopic worms and other soilborne pests and pathogens.
    Research projects supporting reductions in neonicotinoid and other insecticide use:
    • Dr. Paul Rugman-Jones will lead a project developing non-genetically engineered sterile-insect techniques for combating Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). ACP is an insect that spreads a bacterial plant disease called huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is a major threat to California citrus production and one that drives the use of neonicotinoids in citrus.
    • Dr. Hailing Jin will lead research into antimicrobial peptides to combat Pierce’s Disease in grape and HLB in citrus, two highly damaging diseases of perennial crops in California. The project will also focus on their vectors – ACP in citrus and glassy-winged sharpshooter in grape. Alternatives to current vector control practices for these diseases offer the potential to reduce the usage of neonicotinoids and other broad-spectrum insecticides.
    • Dr. Stephanie Bolton will expand the use of canines to rapidly scout grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) and vine mealybug in grape nurseries and commercial vineyards, which greatly impact California grape production. Early detection is a key IPM practice that will help reduce the use of neonicotinoids and other insecticides to control vine mealybug.

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    Research project supporting reductions in fungicide use:
    • Dr. Mary Wildermuth will research a suite of RNA interference approaches to combat powdery mildew in grapevine, potentially resulting in a tailored, highly specific alternative to repeated usage of fungicides.

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    Research project supporting reductions in spray drift and worker exposure:
    • Dr. Peter Larbi will develop and refine a remote nozzle selector device to allow for rapid, safe changeouts of spray nozzles when operating airblast sprayers. This technology will help minimize spray drift and potential exposure to workers and bystanders. Furthermore, these technological advances will be adaptable to traditional chemistries as well as emerging safer alternatives.

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    For more information on past recipients of DPR’s Grants Program funding, or to learn more about DPR’s Grants Program and grant-related IPM research, innovation, implementation and knowledge-sharing, please visit DPR’s Grants Program webpage.

    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.