California To Ban Some Pesticides In San Joaquin Valley

Posted by Christina Herrick|September 24, 2014

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) will likely not allow some pesticides that are high in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to be used in the San Joaquin Valley non-attainment area between May and October. The specific areas affected include: the San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties and the parts of Kern County. The restrictions are needed in order to comply with the Clean Air Act.

The likely ban will take place May through October in 2015 and 2016.

These VOCs are used in pest control in almonds, pistachios, walnuts, grapes, cotton, citrus, and alfalfa. Pesticides in Calfiornia account for about 2% of all VOCs. DPR has preliminary data that shows that the VOC emissions in 2013 slightly increased.

“As a result, we need more restrictions in place to ensure we don’t exceed our goal next year. These restrictions are mandated by regulations that are part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) under the Clean Air Act. The restrictions will likely mean that pest control advisers cannot recommend and growers cannot use high-VOC products containing abamectin, chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, or oxyfluorfen,” says a news release from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

For more detailed information about VOC emissions, visit CDPR.CA.gov.