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DPR Announces $400,000 in Grants

Contact: Charlotte Fadipe
916-445-3974 | charlotte.fadipe@cdpr.ca.gov
September 6, 2013 (13-6)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today announced that two California organizations will receive almost $400,000 in grants for innovative projects that could ultimately promote reduced use of chemical pesticides in California.

“Both of these grant projects are investments that can enhance California's use of natural biological systems in agriculture,” said DPR Director Brian Leahy. “This gives growers an additional alternative to chemical fumigants when it comes to producing food.”

Pest Management Alliance Grants were awarded to

  • Farm Fuel Inc., based in Watsonville, which will receive $247,850. The grant will be used to demonstrate to growers a method to reduce pests in soils without chemical fumigants, known as anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD).
  • University of California Cooperative Extension, based in Woodland, which will receive $123,015. The grant will be used to encourage Northern California growers and landowners to reduce pesticide use by using hedgerows at the edges of their fields. Hedgerows also provide habitat and pollen and nectar sources for honey bees and other pollinators.

The funds come from DPR’s Pest Management Alliance Grant program. Established in 1997, this program provides support for agricultural, nonagricultural and urban groups to increase implementation and adoption of proven pest management systems that reduce risks associated with pesticide use. The funds come from DPR’s Pest Management Alliance Grant program. Established in 1997, this program provides support for agricultural, nonagricultural and urban groups to increase implementation and adoption of proven pest management systems that reduce risks associated with pesticide use.

More details on the 2013 Alliance Grant projects:

  • Farm Fuel Inc.: This project aims to introduce more conventional berry growers to a different way of getting rid of pests in soil, through a process known as anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD). California is actively exploring ways to reduce its dependency on traditional chemical fumigants. ASD is a four-week soil treatment process that occurs before crops are planted. It involves feeding some of the naturally occurring bacteria found in the soil, irrigating the soil and then covering it with a plastic tarp to prevent oxygen from getting to it. The resulting byproducts are naturally toxic to many soil borne pests and thus reduces the need for traditional chemical pesticides. ASD likely produces no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and may serve as a direct replacement for pesticides. See details of the project.
  • University of California Cooperative Extension: This project aims to reduce pesticide use on farms and provide habitat for wildlife by planting hedgerows of California native plants at the edge of fields. This process has been shown to reduce the amount of herbicide used by better management of weed problems at field edges. It ultimately helps to protect surface water quality and reduce the amount of chemicals entering drains. The project aims to have growers in the northern Sacramento Valley adopt hedgerow plantings on their farms by 2016. See details of the project.

DPR has awarded approximately $6 million in Alliance Grants to more than 60 projects since the program started. The grants are funded by fees on pesticide sales.

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