Farm groups say the California Department of Pesticide Regulation's decision to ban chlorpyrifos undermines producers' ability to grow a safe, healthy and abundant food supply. “California farmers are resilient," says Tom Nassif, Western Growers' president and chief executive officer. "But the long-term viability of our farms in California depends on proper support from the Administration and renewed cooperation of the state’s regulatory agencies, especially in light of the many other unique and expensive regulations that place California farmers at a growing competitive disadvantage.” The DPR on May 8 announced its intent to ban chlorpyrifos within two years if not sooner. The move follows the pesticide's formal designation in April as an air pollutant that could be hazardous to human health. Some groups question the validity of the science behind the designation. “The decision to ban chlorpyrifos is not surprising given the significant pressure from anti-pesticide groups, active legislative proposals, regulatory proceedings, and ongoing court battles,” says California Citrus Mutual President Casey Creamer. “However, this decision relies heavily on an evaluation that was significantly flawed and based upon unrealistic modeling scenarios that are not verifiable by actual results in DPR’s own air monitoring network.” Chlorpyrifos is used to control pests on a variety of crops, including alfalfa, almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes and walnuts, although its use has greatly declined in the past decade. The state Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Food and Agriculture promise that Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal, due out this month, will include $5.7 million to support the transition to safer, more sustainable alternatives. Nassif argues that California farmers already have a reputation for being committed to food safety, environmental sustainability and worker and community safety, noting that growers strive at "every turn" to use water, fertilizer and pesticides efficiently. However, the reputation has come at a cost. Operating in "the most stringent regulatory environment in the world," California growers don't have access to tools that are available to many of its global competitors, he says. “With yesterday’s announcement that DPR will initiate the cancellation of chlorpyrifos, one of the most widely studied and globally approved insecticides, California farmers now stand to lose yet another arrow in their quiver – without effective and ready replacement tools – making their quest to grow the safest, healthiest and most abundant food supply in the world even more difficult," Nassif says...MORE
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