Legislation that would ban the use of chlorpyrifos in California is being promoted by Legislators relying upon science from activists. Seventeen agricultural organizations, including Citrus Mutual are opposing this effort as a vehicle that deviates from a science-based system while relying upon flawed data and emotion. The five-page communication speaks to the registration system at [...]
Bloom season is underway and for citrus, this establishes the beginning of a time period when the use of insecticides is greatly restricted in citrus groves. As 10% bloom is declared in each district, all citrus growers, pest control operators, and beekeepers must comply with the regulations covering the citrus/bee protection areas (section 6654 and [...]
The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is contacting the industry with information on how to comply with the Korea and China export protocols. Increased rainfall has triggered the need for a second copper application for Korea (Septoria spot) and China (Phytophthora) in all counties with the exception of Kern, Imperial, and eastern and western Riverside / San [...]
Earlier this week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its 2017 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) residue monitoring results. The new USDA report states: "The PDP annual summaries consistently show that 99 percent of sampled products had residues below EPA tolerances. The PDP data demonstrate that overall pesticide residues found on foods tested are [...]
Last week we let you know that U.S. EPA granted CCM’s Section 18 request to use EVERGREEN PRO 60-6 (EPA Reg. No. 1021-1770) as a post-harvest treatment option for ALL citrus in California. Since then, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) updated its database to include the cover letter granting the exemption and the [...]
Last week U.S. EPA granted CCM’s Section 18 request to use EVERGREEN PRO 60-6 (EPA Reg. No. 1021-1770) as a post-harvest treatment option for ALL citrus in California. Yesterday, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) issued its Section 18 Quarantine Exemption No. 18-07 to the appropriate County Ag Commissioners. DPR worked with the EPA to [...]
On Thursday, November 8, 2018, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) held a public hearing regarding the designation of chlorpyrifos as a toxic air contaminant. It turned out to be a very lively hearing rather than the usual quiet affair. After several rounds of commenters, folks attending from environmental justice groups began protesting and marching [...]
Knowing where the bees are has long been an item of concern for our industry and during this past legislative session, two stakeholders initiated legislation to strengthen the registration procedures for bee owners entering the state of California. CAPCA and the Ag Commissioners have also been frustrated with the lack of cooperation from out of [...]
The most recent Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report and Data administered by the FDA has once again confirmed that over 99% of residues, if present at all, on food samples are well below tolerances set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA also stated that “The findings in this report demonstrate that overall levels of [...]
CDFA recently released its Advisory for a post-harvest treatment option for oranges and mandarins (not for lemons and grapefruit – CCM is currently working with U.S. EPA to obtain a Sec. 18 emergency exemption for their use). The treatment allows for spraying a trailer full of oranges or mandarins in an enclosed tent while still [...]