NEWS BRIEFS
State issues label warning Organic farmers should stop using pesticides labeled as W.O.W. Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro, distributed by EcoMIGHT, the state warned, as lab tests show these products—labeled as organic, natural and glyphosate-free—do, in fact, contain potentially hazardous chemicals. The CaliforniaDepartment of Pesticide Regulat ion has i ssued a not ice to EcoMIGHT LLC, a Florida-based compa- ny, that it may be in violation of state law bymanufacturing, deliveringor sellingun- registeredpesticideproducts inCalifornia. TheCaliforniaDepartment of Foodand Agriculture issued a “stop use” notice for organic growers about EcoMIGHT prod- ucts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also notified EcoMIGHT that it may be in violation of federal law. EcoMIGHT markets its products as “organic,” “natural,” “glyphosate-free” and “non-toxic and safe.” However, state laboratory analyses ofW.O.W.WhackOut Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro products sold in California found that the products test- ed contain potentially hazardous chem- icals including glyphosate, bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and carbaryl. California registered pesticides that con- tain these chemicals go through scientific reviewandhave specific requirements for use and personal protective equipment to safeguard workers, communities and the environment fromharmful pesticide exposure.W.O.W.WhackOutWeeds! and EcoMight-Pro do not contain these safety
instructions, DPR said. “It is critical that we notify California employers, workers and residents who may be using EcoMIGHT products about these safety concerns to prevent poten- tial injury,” saidDPR Acting Director Julie Henderson. “This includes ensuring pes- ticides areproperly registeredand labeled soyouknowif youarehandlingbenign in- gredients or need to use protective equip- ment like gloves, goggles or respirators.” The synthetic chemical compounds CDFAlaboratoryanalysis found inW.O.W. Whack Out Weeds! and EcoMight-Pro products are prohibited for use in organ- ic production by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. Additionally, these products pose a pub- lic health risk because the products were found tocontainhazardous chemicalsnot disclosed on their labels. “It is imperative that we alert California organic growers that these EcoMIGHT products contain substances that are pro- hibited in organic production, in order to preserve the integrity of the California organic label and to protect our growers,” CDFA Secretary KarenRoss said. DPR and CDFA investigations began in San Diego and Ventura counties in June, whenlocalcountyagriculturalcommission- ersalertedstateagencypartnersof apoten- tial concernwith theEcoMIGHTproducts. CDFA’s Sacramento lab analyzed samples and DPR, CDFA and additional state and federalregulatorsarereviewingthelabanal- ysesforpotentialstateandfederalviolations.
Growers sent pest survey The California Department of Food and Agriculture Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division has sent out the 2021 Navel Orangeworm Program Survey to growers. The survey addresses the development of new tools to detect and control navel orangeworm in tree nut crops, including sterile insect technique, which is an envi- ronmentally friendly pest control method involving themass rearingandsterilization of a target pest, followed by the systemat- ic area-wide release of sterilemales by air over defined areas, where theymate with wild females, resulting innooffspring and a declining pest population. In addi t ion to ac t ions taken by California stateagencies,U.S. EPAnotified EcoMIGHT that it may be in violation of federal lawbymanufacturing, distributing or sellingunregisteredpesticideproducts. As part of its enforcement of the law, EPA registers pesticide products and approves label language before a pesticide can be sold or distributed. The agency’s goal is to provide clear directions for effectiveprod- uct performancewhileminimizing risks to human health and the environment. To report illegal pesticide use or con- cernsaboutpotential illness frompesticide exposure, call 1-87PestLine (1-877-378- 5463).Toreportanonymously,usetheDPR mobileappCASPIRor reachoutdirectly to a county agricultural commissioner.
New site tracks drought U.S. Bureau of Reclamation launched a newweb portal that provides real-time drought-related information and details of drought actions taken in collaboration with stakeholders and partners. Thefeaturesof theinteractivemulti-page platformhighlight thebureau’s efforts and investments tomitigate drought impacts, increase drought resiliency, reduce reli- ance on declining water sources and in- crease the efficiency of water deliveries. The Biden administration’s Drought Relief InteragencyWorkingGroup iswork- ing to identify and disburse financial and technical assistance for impactedirrigators and tribes. Informationonthewebportal isavailable atwww.usbr.gov/addressing-drought/. California’sclimate,withwarmerwinters andlongergrowingseasons, increaseswin- ter survival of the navel orangeworm. This pesthasawidehost rangeandhighdisper- sal capability.Current controlmethodscan cost more than $400 per acre, yet can still result inunacceptable levels of damage. The Navel Orangeworm Program is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CDFA and California tree nut growers. The survey can be accessed by going to https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/ wordpress/?p=23144 and clicking on the link at the end of the post.
CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM CIMIS REPORT | www.cimis.water.ca.gov
For the week July 22 - July 28, 2021 ETO (INCHES/WEEK)
YEAR
3.0
THIS YEAR
2.5
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)
SHAFTER (5)
TEMECULA (62)
IMPERIAL (87)
THIS YEAR LAST YEAR AVG. YEAR % FROM AVG.
1.59 1.58 1.76 -9
1.59 1.68 1.73 -9
2.03 1.99 1.97 2
2.04 2.08 1.82 13
1.81 1.83 1.75 2
1.85 1.83 1.82 1
2.08 1.99 1.96 6
1.38 1.33 1.33 6
1.05 1.18 1.47 -30
1.99 1.98 2.00 -1
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 irriga- tion water. Contact Richard Snyder, UC 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. The ETo information is provided by the California Irrigation Management 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
August 4, 2021 Ag Alert 13
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