Almond Industry Headline Environmental News March 21, 2006

   Air Quality

• Almond Environmental Stewardship Tour showcases industry's commitment to environmentally responsible production methods - - More than 20 members of state, federal and regional environmental regulatory agencies recently toured Hunter Farms in Livingston to see the latest innovations and technologies almond growers are using in their adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices. From shredded and composted orchard prunings to high-tech spray technology, almond grower Scott Hunter displayed the innovative approaches he is using to meet mounting regulations while maintaining a productive and profitable orchard system. Hunter, chairman of the Almond Board of California, joined other grower members of the Almond Board's Environmental Committee at the Almond Board of California's Environmental Stewardship Tour to give regulators, in some cases, their first in-person look at the orchards they regulate. <more> March 3, 2006 Almond Board of California Press Release
   

• Farmers Tout Pollution Strides -- Worries about winter frost have been keeping almond growers awake at night, but there are plenty of other concerns on farmers' minds year-round. For example, how to take good care of the earth while still turning a profit. That was the topic of the Almond Board of California's Environmental Stewardship Spring Tour at Hunter Farms in Livingston on Friday. The event brought growers together with representatives from state, federal and regional environmental agencies to showcase the latest innovations in environmentally friendly farming. As farmers face an ever-growing list of regulations designed to limit impacts on air and water quality, the Almond Board has responded by forming an environmental committee to fund research and programs that help growers practice cleaner farming. <more> Feb. 25, 2006 Merced Sun-Star
   

• Agencies run afoul of air regulations. Rules were needed to reduce pollutants in farm pesticides - - California violated the Clean Air Act when it decided nine years ago that no regulations were necessary to cut smog-forming compounds in farm and commercial pesticides, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton's decision means that lawyers for environmental groups and the state will meet to discuss possible remedies for the pollution. Lawyers for both groups have been ordered to file briefs in 20 days. "The bottom line is that the state should have had regulations in place to have a 20 percent reduction of these emissions in five basins by this year," said plaintiffs' attorney Brent Newell of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment. Karlton said the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Air Resources Board and the California Environmental Protection Agency violated the Clean Air Act in 1997 when they decided new rules weren't needed to reduce pollutants from pesticides. <more> Feb. 24, 2006 AP

Water Quality

• Pesticides found in most U.S. rivers -- Most of the nation's rivers and streams - and the fish in them - are contaminated with pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders, but not at levels that can harm humans. Pesticides were found in almost all U.S. rivers and streams between 1992 and 2001, says a study released Friday by the U.S. Geological Survey, although most drinking water supplies haven't been affected. "While the use of pesticides has resulted in a wide range of benefits to control weeds, insects and other pests, including increased food production and reduction of insect-borne disease, their use also raises questions about possible effects on the environment, including water quality," said Robert Hirsch, the USGS associate director for water. <more> March 4, 2006 AP

Crop Protection

• EPA Publishes Final Water Quality Criteria for Diazinon - - The EPA made available on February 23rd the final recommended aquatic life ambient water quality criteria for diazinon. This pesticide is traditionally used throughout the US to control insects in agricultural areas, households, and urban settings. While it became unlawful to sell diazinon for residential uses in the US after December 2004, it is still lawful to use diazinon properly for non-residential or agricultural uses. Mobile and moderately persistent in the environment, diazinon is frequently found in wastewater treatment plant effluent and storm water runoff in urban and agricultural areas. For more information, visit EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/diazinon/.

• "This is an important addition to the Clean Water Act toolbox," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water. "EPA's scientifically-based criteria for pesticides, such as diazinon, and for organic chemicals, such as nonylphenol, help states and tribes set standards to protect watersheds, fish, and wildlife." March 6, 2006 EPA Press Release
   

• State Pesticide Dept. proposes new rules to better protect workers -- The California Department of Pesticide Regulation will propose new rules this year to provide workers with more information about pesticides in the fields. The regulations will provide California agricultural workers with protection that goes beyond any other state or federal guidelines. DPR’s Worker Notification Regulations culminate several years of investigation and analysis by the Department’s health and safety experts, who also consulted with industry and worker advocates. The proposed rules will: • Require pesticide applicators to notify the grower before and after a chemical is used, and re-notify if the scheduled application date changes; • Require the grower to manage his property as if the application could occur anytime within a 24-hour time window, and • Require hired contractors and growers to assure prior notification for any employees who walk within one-quarter mile of a treated field. <more> Feb. 23, 2006 DPR Press Release
   

• Fumigant Could Pose Health Risk. The EPA is expected to approve replacement of an ozone-depleting pesticide with methyl iodide, which the state calls a carcinogen. - - Fourteen years ago, as chemicals gobbled up the Earth's ozone layer, an international treaty ordered a phaseout of a popular pesticide for strawberries and other high-value crops. Now, U.S. officials are poised to replace it with a new pesticide — one that is highly toxic and has been declared a cancer-causing chemical by the state of California. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to approve a new fumigant, methyl iodide, as it eliminates methyl bromide, which damages the ozone layer. With few options for killing diseases and insects in soil, the EPA is faced with a decision that could exchange one toxic hazard for another. California — particularly Ventura and Santa Cruz counties — and Florida have the most at stake. California is the leading producer of strawberries, valued at more than $1 billion a year, and strawberry growers alone could use 3 million pounds of methyl iodide annually to replace methyl bromide. Fumigants, used to sterilize soil before planting, are considered particularly risky among the hundreds of agricultural pesticides in use today. Because methyl iodide is a gas, it can evaporate from soil and drift into nearby areas. <more> Feb. 20, 2006 LA Times
   

Endangered Species

• EPA publishes plan for protecting endangered species from pesticides - - EPA has published a final notice on its enforceable program for the protection of Endangered Species. The Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP) will address, to the degree possible, endangered species issues within the Agency’s existing processes of registration, re-registration and, in the future, registration review. If geographically specific pesticide use limitations are necessary, EPA will create an Endangered Species Protection Bulletin (Bulletin) that will contain enforceable use limitations for the pesticide. Bulletins will be referenced on the pesticide product label and available on the web at www.epa.gov/espp or by calling 1-800-447-3813. The existing "county bulletins" are not enforceable pesticide use limitations. <more> Nov. 3, 2005 EPA Press Release

General Industry News

• March 31 deadline for IPM Innovator nominations - - The California Department of Pesticide Regulation will honor IPM Innovators for the 13th year this fall. Nominations will be accepted until March 31. See www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/ipminov/innovatr.htm for DPR contact information
   

• Bloomin' Uncertainty. Almond farmers worrying about the weird weather - - Bill McKinney sliced through an almond blossom with a penknife to see how it was faring in this rather strange February. "There's the kernel in there," the Modesto-area grower said. "It's nice and green. That's still a viable bloom. When you find one that's frost-damaged, it's black in there." McKinney and other growers are waiting to see how the 2006 almond crop will be affected by this month's unusual weather. One week it was in the 70s, prompting some trees to blossom early. Then a cold snap hit, knocking many of the blooms — potential nuts — off the branches. It's nice again this week, but another storm is heading in. "Right now, every farmer in the almond business is sweating the rains coming up next week," grower Will Hunter said. He hosted McKinney and other industry people at his farm south of Livingston on Friday, in an event sponsored by the Almond Board of California. The main aim was to show regulators and reporters what growers are doing to control air and water pollution. New harvesting equipment, for example, kicks up far less dust than conventional models. Autumn prunings increasingly are chipped into mulch rather than burned. <more> Feb. 25, 2006 Modesto Bee
   

• Anxious for almonds. Late rains may hurt pollination, yield - - Almond growers are waiting to see whether the past month's weather — an uneasy mix of sun, frost and rain — will take a bite out of the 2006 crop. Wet weather could keep bees from efficiently pollinating almond orchards that already have endured spells of cold and rain over the past month, in between unseasonably warm days. Ron Fisher of Fisher Nut Co. in Modesto said it's too early to say how the weather will affect this year's crop. The blossoms have to survive the elements in February and March if they are to develop into nuts that mature in the heat of summer. "We will know a lot more at the end of April — what was pollinated and what the trees can hold," Fisher said. <more> March 7, 2006 Modesto Bee
   

• Ripon almond family farmers in tune with industry changes  - - As a member of the Almond Board, Dave Phippen  is perhaps more in tune than the average farmer to industry changes. He is the third generation running a successful family farm. Phippen owns and runs the almond farm on the outskirts of Ripon  with his brother, Scott Phippen and cousin, Bud Travaille. “I think a big change in the almond industry has been worker safety,” Dave said. “We’re much more aware of crop protection chemicals (CPCs) and we’re using less harsh chemicals.” Not only are they changing the kinds of CPCs (more commonly known as pesticides), they are also using much less than they used to. In order to have the same harvest success with less chemicals, they are using integrated pest management to monitor for harmful insects before farmers will spray for them. Increased worker safety is not the only new change. There has also been an increase in awareness of food safety on both the production and consumer ends. From the grower’s perspective, says Dave, food safety starts in the orchard. <more> Feb. 21, 2006 Manteca Bulletin
  
   

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