Ban Continued from Page 1 from farms and return to the manufacturer for refunds and proper disposal.” A use assessment conducted by the EPA last spring found that DCPA appli- cations were made primarily to broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and dry onions, and mostly in California. In California, 192,900 pounds and 188,200 pounds of DCPA were applied in 2021 and 2022, respectively, accord- ing to a report prepared for the state by the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis. As a top vegetable producer, Monterey County led California counties in appli- cations of 79,000 pounds of DCPA in 2022, with most of the herbicide treatment ap- plied prior to planting broccoli. “The biggest concern we’re seeing here in Monterey County is for our onions and our broccoli crops, and how those are go- ing to be managed going into the future to control weeds,” Groot said. With the use of Dacthal suspended, there are only a few alternatives available to growers, Groot said, noting that these materials require more frequent applica- tions and may involve harsher chemicals. Soon after the EPA issued the emergen- cy order to remove DCPA from the mar- ket, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation announced it is working to support the availability of alternative pes- ticides to control weeds in affected crops. DPR said it will prioritize applications for full registration of alternative products.
In addition, it is providing assistance to stakeholders to make alternatives avail- able through an emergency exemption for special local needs under FIRA. The Dacthal ban has introduced liabil- ity concerns for growers. Groot said some buyers and shippers are asking growers for assurances that the herbicide was not used on crops purchased, which could lead to the rejection of products even if the her- bicide was legally applied before the ban. The situation creates potential contractual disputes and financial losses for farmers, he said. The EPA and others noted the suspension of Dacthal is not a food safety issue. EPA said it has not identified risks from consuming foods with residues due to use of DCPA on crops as allowed by registered labels. The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association, which represents agricultural commis- sioners in every county, also said the ban is not related to food safety concerns. “(Dacthal) is typically applied at the same time the crop is being planted and is not used on vegetable plants during the growing cycle. As such, DCPA is not con- sidered a food safety concern for consum- ers,” the association said. Any applications of DCPA on com- modities listed on the product label prior to the suspension by the EPA were legal and subject to strict residue tolerances to ensure the safety of consumers, the asso- ciation added. In response to the EPA’s emergency suspension of the herbicide, the associa-
tion has notified California farmers that they must immediately discontinue use of DCPA products, and that agricultural commissioners will enforce the ban to en- sure compliance. This includes physical inspections of farming businesses to make sure pesticide regulations are followed. American Vanguard Corp., the reg- istrant and sole manufacturer of DCPA, voluntarily stopped sales of the affected products in April. The company submit- ted cancellation requests to the EPA for federal registrations of the products due to the agency’s assessment that DCPA is harmful, particularly to pregnant women and developing fetuses. In a statement, the company said it
“continues to question EPA’s conclusions in support of the suspension,” adding that the EPA decision is based on test results of one study provided by the company that showed an effect on fetal rodents at cer- tain dose levels. The observed effect was extrapolated to indicate a potential effect upon humans, the company added. American Vanguard is working with state and federal authorities on a product return program that includes tracking of the remaining stock of DCPA products and removal of the banned herbicide from dis- tribution channels. (Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)
Hearing on dairy quota set
A public hearing on the state dairy quota implementation plan, or QIP, will be held Sept. 9 beginning at 10 a.m. The California Department of Food and Agriculture previously set the hearing for Aug. 9, but postponed it to consider ad- ditional producer suggestions on chang- es to the QIP. But the department said it determined the new proposals “deviate from the language the (Producer Review Board) reviewed and recommended.” Therefore, the proposed QIP modifica- tions to be considered during the hearing remain the same. They consist of three parts, plus a tech- nical change proposed by CDFA: reducing the current quota premium payout from
$1.70 per hundredweight, or 19.5 cents a pound, of solids not fat, to $1 per cwt., or 11.5 cents a pound, of SNF; eliminating the regional quota adjusters; clarifying the lan- guage about “hardships” by adding details that were part of the former milk pooling plan; and rewording the definition of “pro- ducer” to enhance clarity. All affected California dairy farmers and interested individuals may sign up to testi- fy at the hearing. To join the hearing by Zoom, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84248601086. Meeting ID: 842 4860 1086. Passcode: 4^5WBjb*. To join by telephone, call 669- 444-9171. Meeting ID: 842 4860 1086. Passcode: 04670783.
CIMIS REPORT | www.cimis.water.ca.gov
CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
For the week of August 22 - August 28, 2024 ETO (INCHES/WEEK)
YEAR
2.5
THIS YEAR
LAST YEAR AVERAGE YEAR
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
MACDOEL II (236)
BIGGS (244)
DAVIS (06)
MANTECA (70)
FRESNO (80)
SALINAS-SOUTH (214)
FIVE POINTS (2)
IMPERIAL (87)
THIS YEAR LAST YEAR AVG. YEAR % FROM AVG.
1.33 1.35 1.43 -6
1.37 1.49 1.42 -3
1.46 1.59 1.61 -8
1.45 1.51 1.49 -3
1.72 1.74 1.67 3
1.45 1.27 1.19 22
1.76 1.67 1.77 0
2.10 1.96 1.83 15
W eekly reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is the rate of water use (evapotranspiration—the sum of soil evaporation and crop transpiration) for healthy pasture grass. Multiplying ETo by the appropriate crop coefficient gives estimates of the ET for other crops. For example, assume ETo on June 15 is 0.267 inches and the crop coefficient for corn on that day is 1.1. Multiplying ETo by the coefficient (0.26 inches x 1.1) results in a corn ET of 0.29 inches. This information is
useful in determining the amount and timing of irrigation water. Contact Richard Snyder at the University of California, Davis, for information on coefficients, 530-752-4628. The 10 graphs provide weekly ETo rates for selected areas for average year, last year and this year. ETo information is provided by the California Irrigation Man- agement Information System (CIMIS) of the California Department of Water Resources.
For information contact the DWR district office or DWR state headquarters:
SACRAMENTO HEADQUARTERS: 916-651-9679 • 916-651-7218
NORTHERN REGION: Red Bluff 530-529-7301
NORTH CENTRAL REGION: West Sacramento 916-376-9630
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION:
SOUTHERN REGION:
Fresno 559-230-3334
Glendale 818-500-1645 x247 or x243
September 4, 2024 Ag Alert 11
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