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Contact: Glenn Brank 916/445-3974 |
February 14, 2002 (02-04) |
DPR awards $1 million for projects in 34 counties
Editors: Project counties include Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba. For detailed descriptions of the Pest Management Alliances and Grants, see http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm.
SACRAMENTO -- The California Department of Pesticide Regulation today announced grant awards of more than $1 million to reduce pesticide risks in neighborhoods, schools, and farm fields across the state.
Eight major projects received a total of about $635,000 under DPR's Pest Management Alliance program. It encourages industrywide innovations that benefit workers, consumers, and the environment. In addition, three ventures received a total of about $30,000 for evaluations that may lead to future Alliance grants.
DPR will provide another $338,000 to fund 11 Pest Management Grants for specific pest problems and localized efforts to promote IPM -- integrated pest management. IPM works with nature to minimize pests, nurture beneficial organisms, and promote least-toxic pest control.
"Since 1996, DPR has awarded almost $9.5 million to encourage IPM research and development," said DPR Director Paul E. Helliker. "More than 200 projects have received our support. Most of this year's grants will continue projects that have been underway for several years. This underscores our long-term commitment to protecting people and the environment and our support for California's vital agricultural economy."
Current and prospective Alliance partners will discuss projects and exchange ideas at a DPR meeting on March 12. For reservations, call Bob Elliott at 916/324-4100.
Alliance grants
The eight Alliance grants renewed partnerships between DPR and major industry groups. Each Alliance grant requires the recipient to match DPR funding. Alliance grants go to:
The Almond Board of California, to reduce the use of high-toxicity pesticides, with field demonstration orchards in Butte, Kern, and Stanislaus counties ($79,487). Media contact: Mark Looker, 209/575-2094.
The California Association of Winegrape Growers, to prevent sulfur drift and seek herbicide alternatives with vineyards in Alameda, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Riverside, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, and Stanislaus counties ($79,487). Media contact: Karen Ross, 800/241-1800.
The California Citrus Research Board, to encourage biological controls on key citrus pests, with demonstration groves in Kern and Tulare counties ($79,487). Media contact: Ted Batkin, 559/738-0246.
The California Dried Plum Board, to reduce the use of high-toxicity insecticides and pesticide runoff into surface and ground water, with field work in Butte, Fresno, Glenn, Madera, Merced, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba counties ($79,487). Media contact: Gary Obenauf, 559/447-2127.
The Marin County Department of Agriculture and Marin Department of Education, to help implement school IPM practices in Alameda, Contra Costa, Madera, Marin, and Solano counties, and to develop model IPM programs for districts statewide ($79,487). Media contact: Stacy Carlsen, 415/499-6700.
The California Tree Fruit Agreement, to develop an IPM system for controlling major stone fruit pests in Fresno, Kings, Sutter, Tulare, and Yuba counties ($79,264). Media contact: Marilyn Dolan, 559/636-8260.
The University of California, in cooperation with California's nursery industry, to seek more environmentally-friendly pest control methods against the red imported fire ant and the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Demonstration nurseries are in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties ($79,058). Media contact: Cheryl Wilen, 858/694-2846.
The Walnut Marketing Board, to compare and demonstrate the effectiveness of reduced-risk alternatives to conventional walnut pest control in Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo and Yuba counties ($79,487). Media contact: Jennifer Plantt, 415/956-1791.
Alliance Evaluation Grants
Before DPR considers an application for a full Alliance grant, the candidate must conduct an evaluation of their pest management practices to show the benefits of a partnership with DPR. Evaluation grants go to:
Bio-Integral Resource Center of Berkeley, to study IPM training and techniques for pest control operators ($10,000). Media contact: Tanya Drlik, 510/524-1758.
The University of California, Davis, to consider reduced-risk pest management options for gerbera, a cut-flower crop ($9,800). Media contact: Michael Parella, 530/752-8473.
The University of California, Riverside, to explore the potential use of sterilization technology against the olive fruit fly ($10,000). Media contact: Iqbal Pittalwala, 909/787-2645.
Pest Management Grants
These 11 grants include a combination of demonstration and applied research projects. They are listed under the county or counties where work will be conducted.
Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties: "Kids in Gardens"; Aquatic Outreach Institute; $30,000. Media Contact: Tamara Shulman, 510/231-9493.
Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter and Yuba counties: "Rice Water Weevil Management: Development of Improved Sampling Techniques and Rice Yield Loss Understanding for Optimizing IPM in California Rice"; University of California, Davis; $30,000. Media contact: Rhoda McKnight, 530/752-9328.
Butte, Contra Costa, Kings, San Joaquin, Sutter, Tehama and Tulare counties: Aerial Release of Trichogramma to Control Codling Moth"; ARENA Pesticide Management; $18,350. Media contact: Russell Stocker, 530/757-1550.
Colusa County: See project listed under Butte County.
Contra Costa County: See projects listed under Alameda and Butte counties.
Glenn County: See project listed under Butte County.
Kings County: See project listed under Butte County.
Monterey County: "Demonstration of Vineyard Floor Management Alternatives"; University of California Cooperative Extension; $23,897. Media contacts: Richard Smith and Larry Bettiga, 831/759-7350.
Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties: "Reduced-Risk Vineyard Practices -- Demonstration and Outreach by the Central Coast Vineyard Team"; Central Coast Vineyard Team; $30,000. Media contact: Ms. Kris O'Connor, 805/434-4848.
Monterey and Yolo counties: "Pre-Irrigation Followed by Cultivation or Flaming to Deplete the Weed Seed Bank Prior to Crop Planting or Emergence"; University of California; $30,000. Media contact: John Stumbo, 530/754-9554.
Orange and Riverside counties: "Nematode- and Weed-Suppressive Cover Crops for Sustainable Pest Management"; University of California, Riverside; $27,779. Media contact: Iqbal Pittalwala, 909/787-2645.
Placer County: See project listed under Butte County.
Riverside County: "Multi-Disciplinary Pest Management in a Museum Setting"; Riverside Municipal Museum; $39,059. Media contact: Laurie Payne, 909/826-5997.
Riverside County: See also project under Orange County.
Sacramento County: See project listed under Butte County.
San Francisco County: See project listed under Alameda County.
San Joaquin and Tulare counties: "Development of an Integrated Pest Management System for Dry Beans"; University of California Cooperative Extension; $30,000. Media contact: Mick Canevari, 209/468-2085.
San Joaquin County: See also project listed under Butte County.
San Luis Obispo County: See project listed under Monterey County.
Santa Barbara County: "Model Regional Integrated Pest Management Coalition"; Community Environmental Council; $49,990. Media contact: Sigrid Wright, 805/963-0583, ext. 109.
Santa Barbara County: See also project listed under Monterey County.
Santa Cruz County: See project listed under Monterey County.
Sutter County: See projects listed under Butte County.
Tehama County: See project listed under Butte County.
Tulare County: See projects listed under Butte and San Joaquin counties.
Yolo County: "Behavior Modification in Nematode Management"; University of California, Davis; $29,120. Media contact: Vivian Carmichael, 530/752-9645.
Yolo County: See also project listed under Monterey County.
Yuba County: See project listed under Butte County.
One of six departments and boards within the California Environmental Protection Agency, DPR regulates the sale and use of pesticides to protect people and the environment.
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