State proposes new rules for use of neonicotinoids
executive of California Citrus Mutual in Exeter. “Neonicotinoids are incredibly im- portant to the California citrus industry,” Creamer said, “not only just for the battle against huanglongbing and the Asian cit- rus psyllid—it’s our No. 1 tool there—but also an important part of our integrated pest management programs.” The Asian citrus psyllid spreads huan- glongbing, also called HLB or citrus greening, which infects and kills citrus trees. A psyllid infectedwith the bacteri- um that causes HLB was recently found
in a commercial grove in Riverside County, although the disease itself has not yet been detected in a California commercial grove. “It’s a must-have, and there really ar- en’t any feasible alternatives that work as well as the neonicotinoids in fighting ACP,” Creamer said. Citrus growers are “proactive” when it comes to bees, he noted. “There’s a symbiotic relationship,” Creamer said. “A good part of a bee’s
ByKevinHecteman Farmers would be severely limited as to how and when they could apply ne- onicotinoid insecticides to protect their crops, under regulations being contem- plated by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The four crop-protection materials covered under the proposed regulations are clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidaclo- prid and thiamethoxam, all of which the department said it considers toxic tobees and other pollinators. Taylor Roschen, a California Farm Bureau Federation policy advocate, said CFBF is evaluating the proposed regula- tion’s potential effect on farms. “As always, our guiding principles are that these regulations must be based on sound science and flexibility, to not acutely impact farms’ ability tomost effi- ciently protect their crops,” Roschen said. In general, neonicotinoid applica- tions would be banned during bloom, as would applications of more than one ac- tive ingredient within the same growing season. Using soil and foliar applications in the same growing season also would be disallowed, with limited exceptions Author pulls bill affecting livestock use of food waste A b i l l t ha t wou l d have l imi t ed California livestock producers’ access to recycled and upcycled food waste was pulled from consideration days before its scheduled hearing in the state Senate last week. T h e C a l i f o r n i a Fa r m B u r e a u Federation led a coalition of agricultural and food-processing organizations op- posing the measure, Assembly Bill 2959. “We are pleased to see that restrictions on livestock feed, through AB 2959, will no longer be pursued this year,” said Taylor Roschen, a CFBF policy advocate. “As the state works toward managing its organic waste, our farms, dairies and ranches provide an invaluable service. We look forward to continuing to high- light that work.” AB 2959, from Assemblyman Ian Ca l de ron , D-Wh i t t i e r, had been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee last week but was taken off the agenda. Under the bill, livestock producers would no longer have been able to re- ceive food byproducts from retail and commercial establishments, including grocers, restaurants and others, if the lo- cal jurisdictionhas a contract with a fran- chise waste hauler. Opponents said the bill would have forced more food waste into landfills rather than being used to feed animals.
for pome fruit and stone fruit. Additional regulations would apply to farms where managed pollinators are being used. A set of restrictions geared to specific crops would also apply, depending on the crop’s attractiveness to bees. Losing neonicotinoids would be dev- astating to citrus growers, according to Casey Creamer, president and chief
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August 19, 2020 Ag Alert 3
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