Environmental Information for the
California Almond Industry

Almond Industry Headline Environmental News  Sept. 2, 2008

Air Quality
 

  • Almond growers rely on research and technology to comply with myriad air quality rules - - (Editor's Note: This is the first article in a three-part series on air quality issues affecting the California almond industry that ran in Western Fruit Grower) By Gabriele Ludwig, Senior Manager, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California - - California almond growers farm some of the most fertile, productive ground in the world. Unfortunately, they also farm a region with some of the worst air quality in the nation. Air quality regulations are changing the way almond growers farm, harvest and transport their crops, while adding considerable cost to the bottom line.  These rules, some of them pending and others already on the books, come from federal, state and regional levels and they are sometimes confusing, overlapping and even conflicting.  Air quality regulations focus on three general kinds of air pollution: ozone, dust and greenhouse gasses. <more> Western Fruit Grower
     

  • Almond Industry Works to Reduce Dust in Growing and Harvesting Operations - - (Editor's Note: This is the second article in a three-part series on air quality issues affecting the California almond industry that ran in Western Fruit Grower) By Gabriele Ludwig, Senior Manager, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California - - Air quality regulations will continue to impact the way almonds are grown, harvested and transported in the San Joaquin Valley and statewide. New and existing regulations focus on three general sources of air pollution; ozone, particulate matter (dust) and greenhouses gasses. In California, new air quality rules aim to reduce particulate matter and diesel emissions from trucks and agricultural vehicles.  Pending State Air Resources Board rules for on-road heavy-duty diesel trucks will require the retrofit of diesel truck engines with particulate filters beginning Dec. 31, 2010. Starting in 2012, older truck engines must be replaced with lower NOx emitting motors. NOx is a precursor to both ozone and PM2.5. Once on-road truck regulations are finalized in October, ARB turns their attention to similar rules for agricultural equipment, including tractors, almond harvesters and chippers. As part of its effort to reduce diesel emissions, ARB also decided last year to mandate replacement or retrofits of diesel pumps state-wide – emulating a program established for the San Joaquin Valley six years ago. <more> Western Fruit Grower
     

  • Greenhouse gases mark the next major frontier in air quality rules for agriculture - - (Editor's Note: This is the third article in a three-part series on air quality issues affecting the California almond industry that ran in Western Fruit Grower) By Gabriele Ludwig, Senior Manager, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs,Almond Board of California - - Greenhouse gas emissions will form the basis of significant new air quality regulations in the next few years, affecting every sector of society. Industry is likely to get the brunt of new rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and agriculture will be no exception. Already, the California Air Resources Board in late June released a sweeping plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 percent within the next decade. The new plan would help the state comply with AB32, a landmark legislation passed in 2006, which obligates the state to reduce greenhouse gases to pre-1990 levels by the year 2020. And experts say a national policy is likely to follow soon. While transportation and electricity generation account for the vast majority of greenhouse gases, production agriculture is the sixth largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in California, largely as emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4).  <more> Western Fruit Grower
     

  • Sign-ups being accepted for California EQIP funds for 2009 - - California almond growers should act now to secure technical and financial assistance for integrating conservation practices into their operations and facilities in 2009. Under the newly authorized Farm Bill, growers are likely to have additional cost-share funds in 2009 under the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to integrate conservation practices that address resource issues in the orchard. Rules on how those authorized funds will be distributed are still being finalized in Washington D.C., but NRCS officials said the new Farm Bill is likely to contain increased funding for conservation. <more> Sept. 2, 2008 California Almond News
     

  • San Joaquin Valley almond growers face Jan. 1 deadline for new rules on internal combustion engines - - San Joaquin Valley almond growers have until Jan. 1, 2009, to meet new emissions requirements for gas-powered irrigation pump engines. A new rule by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District establishes new thresholds for spark-ignited internal combustion engines in agricultural operations as part of its effort to reduce agricultural emissions of NOx, CO and VOCs in the Central Valley. Under District Rule 4702, growers with irrigation pumps or other engines powered by gasoline, natural gas, propane/LPG, biogas or other fossil fuels must retrofit engines that do not meet those thresholds with an emission control device, such as an exhaust catalyst, or replace them with a more efficient lean-burn, electric or diesel engine that meets the limit. <more> Sept. 2, 2008 California Almond News
     

Crop Protection

  • California DPR sees opportunity to clear the air - - By Mary-Ann Warmerdam, Director, Department of Pesticide Regulation - - A recent appellate court ruling reaffirmed that the state Department of Pesticide Regulation appropriately met its legal commitment to help clean the air. But the ruling for DPR also underscores that a measured, reasonable approach to environmental protection serves us best, in the long run. This approach is more difficult than it sounds. For years, DPR has been caught in the crossfire between a few people who would ban all pesticides, and a few others who oppose any effort to control pesticide emissions that contribute to smog. Neither position is reasonable, nor is it in the best interests of our environment and economy. Now we have reason for hope. The appellate ruling relieves DPR from a court-imposed deadline to drastically reduce pesticide air emissions across the state, without any regard for the impact on farm communities. Instead, we now find an opportunity to approach our complex clean air mandates in a more thoughtful, thorough way. But our ultimate goal remains the same: comply with the federal Clean Air Act and state air mandates in a way that minimizes economic disruption. <more> Aug. 28, 2008 Western Farm Press
     
  • Lawsuit seeks EPA pesticide data - - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is refusing to disclose records about a new class of pesticides that could be playing a role in the disappearance of millions of honeybees in the United States, a lawsuit filed Monday charges. The Natural Resources Defense Council wants to see the studies that the EPA required when it approved a pesticide made by Bayer CropScience five years ago. The environmental group filed the suit as part of an effort to find out how diligently the EPA is protecting honeybees from dangerous pesticides, said Aaron Colangelo, a lawyer for the group in Washington. In the last two years, beekeepers have reported unexplained losses of hives - 30 percent and upward - leading to a phenomenon called colony collapse disorder. Scientists believe that the decline in bees is linked to an onslaught of pesticides, mites, parasites and viruses, as well as a loss of habitat and food. <more> Aug. 19, 2008 SF Chronicle

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. <read more> May California Almonds Newsletter
     

     

General Industry News

  • Valley growers upset as bill excludes nuts, dried fruits - – Congress dissed dried fruits and nuts in the latest farm bill, and growers are feeling ambushed.In a last-minute maneuver that is only now coming to light, farm bill authors cut out dried fruits and nuts from an ambitious school snack program. The action could slam the door on some potentially lucrative markets. "This is a real problem with the bill, excluding an entire industry," said Dan Haley, a lobbyist for California specialty crops. <more> Aug. 19, 2008 Sacramento Bee
     

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