Soil Fumigants Rules Likely to Tighten

Just months after the California Department of Pesticide Regulation enacted new soil fumigant rules, regulators are now saying that restricting the timing and application methods of soil fumigations may not be enough to meet air quality mandates for volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in the San Joaquin Valley. In January, DPR rolled out regulations on soil fumigants for regions of the state with the dirtiest air in an effort to curb pesticide emissions of smog-forming VOCs during the peak ozone period from May 1 to Oct. 31. The rules limit soil fumigations and application methods during that time to lower emissions. <more> May California Almonds Newsletter

New clean-air rules for trucks set off battle between enviros, industry

As the nation focuses on greenhouse gas regulations set into motion by landmark legislation in 2006, state regulators are set to pass a less-publicized, wide-reaching rule on emissions from diesel busses and trucks that business groups say could cost billions of dollars to implement. Environmentalists hailed the state Air Resources Board after its staff released a draft of the new regulations earlier this year-the first such rules in the nation. But following a public hearing last Friday, the regulations were modified in the wake of howls of protest from business groups-a move that immediately kindled environmentalists' suspicions. A critical piece of the draft regulation required some truckers' engines to be replaced twice in nine years in order to comply with the rule, but that language has been eliminated from the draft regulation, the ARB said. <more> May 1, 2008 Capitol Weekly

Pending emissions rules among top concerns of haulers, growers. Industry asking for seasonal-truck exemptions

Agricultural haulers say new diesel-emissions rules proposed earlier this year by the California Air Resources Board will push them out of business. The state's proposed rules, published in late January, would create stringent new requirements for cleaning up diesel exhaust. The diesel engines of the goods-transportation industry are blamed for most of California's transportation-related smog. A central argument among those in agriculture - growers as well as crop transporters - is that regulations should allow exemptions for trucks and field machines that operate only seasonally. Many of those engines run for many years and replacing or retrofitting them with emissions-control systems can be a sizable investment. <more> April 18, 2008 Capital Press

Environmental Stewardship

Survey of Target Almond Consumers Reveals Global Interest in Sustainability

Consumer surveys in major markets for California almonds show that target consumers are becoming more sophisticated about how the products they eat are grown and appear willing to pay more for sustainably grown food. In Western Europe, where over half of all California almonds are exported annually, more than 80 percent of so-called "Jane" consumers say it is important to them that farms practice sustainability when producing the food and drink they consume. The 27-member states of the EU represent the world's second largest market for almonds. <more> May California Almonds Newsletter

Almond Industry Explores Sustainability

It seems everybody is claiming that their products are “sustainable” or “green” nowadays. But what exactly is sustainability and what does it mean to California almond growers? Sustainability is about ensuring the health of a particular industry or company while also ensuring the health of the environment and local community. With the help of Dr. Keith Warner, Director of the Faith, Ethics & Vocation Project at Santa Clara University’s Environmental Studies Institute, the Almond Board has created a working definition of sustainable almond farming. That definition was developed based on input from focus groups of almond farmers, PCAs, farm advisors and handlers, all of whom unanimously agreed that the almond industry should continue to pursue the concept of sustainability. <more> April California Almonds Newsletter

Regulators get good news from almond industry

Growers often hesitate to invite regulators onto their property. “Why invite scrutiny,” they reason. But almond grower and handler Dick Braden of Braden Farms warmly welcomed regulators during the Almond Board’s Fourth Environmental Stewardship Tour in February. After all, Braden Farms has a great story to tell. Some 30 state and federal regulators, local dignitaries and media members toured Braden’s 13,000-acre almond operation in Hickman, Calif., to learn first-hand what he and other growers are doing to address environmental issues, including air and water quality, reduced-risk pest management and endangered species. The tour highlighted new technologies and methods designed to reduce the impact of almond production on the environment. At Braden Farms, land is laser leveled and designed with collection ponds and cover crops to reduce fertilizer and soil runoff into nearby waterways. Micro-irrigation systems help Braden reduce water use and runoff and apply fertilizers more efficiently. And pests are managed through careful monitoring and timely sprays of softer insecticides. <more> April 10, 2008 Western Farm Press

General Industry News

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