County Agricultural Commissioners Supportive of California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s New SprayDays Website
State officials charged with the enforcement of California’s stringent pesticide laws are reacting positively to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (CDPR) implementation of a new system created to notify the public of pending application of what are called ‘restricted use pesticides’ on farms.
“In California, farmers have always been required by law to notify their County Agricultural Commissioner before they make an application of a restricted use pesticide on their farms,” said Lindsey Carter, Executive Director of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association. “These applications must be approved in advance by the local Ag Commissioner who is charged with making sure pesticides are applied in a safe manner and that all regulations are being followed.”
For the first time, the public will now have access to information about pending pesticide applications throughout the state through a new website at SprayDays_California.
According to CDPR, the SprayDays system is 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.
The new SprayDays system allows the public to sign up to receive an email or text notifying them when an application of a restricted use pesticide is expected to take place in the immediate vicinity of their homes, offices or schools. Users can also search for nearby pesticide applications via an interactive map.
“DPR has done a great job developing the SprayDays website in making it a user-friendly system,” said Carter. “We are hopeful the public will find this a useful tool for its intended purpose, which is to provide transparent information when it comes to the application of pesticides in California that are necessary for managing pests and ensuring a stable food supply. The SprayDays website is also a resource for information on pesticide safety and how pesticides are regulated in California.”
Carter emphasized that SprayDays provides notification only for pesticides categorized by CDPR as “restricted use pesticides.”
“In California, farmers are required to report their use of all categories of pesticides to CDPR. Use trends indicate that over the past 10 years, use of restricted use pesticides has been on the decline while organic and biological pesticide use has increased by over 50 percent,” explained Carter. “This means the public may see the application of these safer pesticides taking place in their communities without receiving notification.”
Carters also noted that members of the public can contact their local Ag Commissioner’s office if they have questions or concerns about specific pesticide applications. Ag Commissioners operate in every California county and serve as a valuable resource about specific local agriculture and pest issues. A contact list for county Agricultural Commissioner offices can be found here.
All questions concerning the SprayDays website should be directed to DPR through email at [email protected].