SACRAMENTO -- It's happening at a Riverside museum.
And in vineyards that stretch from Clear Lake to Temecula.
It's working in urban landscapes in Palo Alto and Santa
Rosa. And in Ventura classrooms and schoolyards.
It's IPM -- integrated pest management. Put simply,
it's a way of working with nature to encourage beneficial
plants and animals while making survival difficult for
pests. This year, the Department of Pesticide Regulation
will present its tenth annual IPM Innovator Awards to
recognize California organizations for their IPM accomplishments.
DPR Director Paul Helliker will present the 2003 awards
to eight recipients at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, October
15) at Cal/EPA Headquarters.
"Once again, we've found environmental success stories
throughout California," said Helliker. "As is often
the case, many people are unaware of this outstanding
work, because these environmental pioneers work so quietly
and effectively to manage pest problems.
"Each one of these eight IPM Innovators has a unique
story, but all have made an important contribution to
protecting and preserving California's environment,
and they deserve our recognition and our thanks," said
Helliker.
DPR evaluations of this year's award recipients frequently
cited a dedication to "sustainable" practices. Sustainability
includes a commitment to protect the environment, conserve
natural resources, preserve economic viability, and
promote social responsibility.
The 2003 IPM Innovators are:
- The California Association of Winegrape Growers,
Sacramento, and the Wine Institute, San Francisco,
for collaborating on a program to encourage sustainable
practices in vineyards and wineries across the state.
- James Berry Vineyards, Paso Robles, for demonstrating
the viability of low-impact agriculture.
- Nord Coast Vineyard Services, Napa, for promoting
non-chemical options to fight Pierce's Disease.
- The City of Palo Alto, for developing an IPM program
to dramatically reduce the need for pesticides on
municipal property.
- Riverside Municipal Museum, Riverside, for creating
a unique pest management program tailored to museum
facilities.
- The University of California Cooperative Extension
Master Gardener Program, Sonoma County, for its creative
approach to practical IPM tips for urban homes and
gardens.
- The Ventura Unified School District, Ventura, for
a cost-saving program that uses least-toxic pest management
in classrooms and on school grounds.
DPR regulates the use of pesticides as one of six departments
and boards within the California Environmental Protection
Agency. Additional details and contact information follow
for each IPM Innovator:
California Association of Winegrape Growers, Sacramento
This voluntary association represents growers who produce
about 60 percent of California's wine grape tonnage.
As a national wine industry leader, CAWG has developed
and supported sustainable farming practices that are
environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically
viable. Recent CAWG activities include an eco-labeling
seminar, a sustainable agriculture conference, and a
collaborative workshop on vineyards and wildlife habitat.
CAWG also has played a key role in DPR's California
Winegrape Pest Management Alliance, which focuses on
reduced-risk pest management. In October 2002, CAWG
introduced the "Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices"
in cooperation with the Wine Institute. This program
of best management practices includes a 490-page workbook
to promote social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
It provides a comprehensive guide to help growers conserve
natural resources, protect the environment, and build
good working relationships with neighbors. To promote
these goals, CAWG and the Wine Institute have distributed
more than 2,000 workbooks and held more than 60 workshops
statewide in the past year. Media contact: CAWG President
Karen Ross, (916) 924-5370 or Karen@cawg.org.
(For more details, see the Wine Institute award description.)
Wine Institute, San Francisco
Established in 1934, the Wine Institute represents
more than 650 California wineries and affiliates who
produce more than 90 percent of California's wine shipments
and 80 percent of all U.S. wine shipments. The Wine
Institute supports sustainable agriculture through a
variety of business alliances. The institute also publishes
"Sustainable Winegrowing Practices -- Highlight of the
Month", a semi-monthly newsletter that discusses IPM
techniques. The institute's Web site http://www.wineinstitute.org
highlights reports and studies that support sustainable
practices. Working in cooperation with the California
Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), the Wine Institute
co-produced the "Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices"
and an associated workbook to help members of the industry
self-assess their business practices for sustainability.
More than 600 vineyard representatives and almost 100
winery employees have completed these assessments to
date. The Wine Institute and CAWG also have undertaken
a "Performance for Sustainability" project in partnership
with the California Environmental Protection Agency.
This model partnership seeks to protect and enhance
the environment by supporting sustainable economic development.
Media contact: Director of Communications Kari Birdseye,
(415) 356-7520 or kbirdseye@wineinstitute.org.
James Berry Vineyards, Paso Robles
This 71-acre farm, owned and operated by the Pebble
Smith family, offers a notably successful example of
low-impact agriculture. The vineyard has not been tilled
in 20 years, reducing the potential for erosion. No
insecticides have been used for the last 18 years. Instead,
Smith maintains 15 acres of surrounding natural habitat
for pest predators. Herbicide use is minimal. The vineyard
is a member of the Central Coast Vineyard Team, which
encourages reduced-risk pest management practices. Smith
has hosted a variety of industry meetings and tours
to promote non-tillage and other sustainable techniques,
and his vineyard and wines have been the subject of
articles in Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and the
Los Angeles Times. Media contact: Pebble Smith (805)
238-7378 or pebble_smith@b-f.com.
Nord Coast Vineyard Services Inc., Napa
A family-owned vineyard management company, Nord Coast
oversees 600 acres in Napa County and 300 acres in the
Gilroy-Hollister area. The firm also does vineyard consulting
work with an emphasis on sustainable production. Only
reduced-risk pesticides are applied by Nord Coast, and
Pierce's Disease is managed primarily with non-pesticide
options. These include stream bank restoration projects
to reduce pathogens and erosion, and encourage native
plants that harbor natural pest predators. Nord Coast
has received three grants from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture for these efforts. The firm also installs
nesting boxes and perches in vineyards to attract owls
and other raptors that reduce rodent problems. Wildflowers
and cover crops are planted to attract beneficial insects
and reduce runoff. Nord Coast has played a key role
in DPR's Winegrape Pest Management Alliance and undertaken
notable IPM outreach and education efforts. These include
programs for Spanish-speaking vineyard workers, as well
as growers, pest control advisers, and the public. In
addition to other public education events, Nord Coast
holds an annual Vineyard Open House where neighbors
and other community members learn about Nord Coast's
innovative pest management techniques. Media contact:
Jon Kanagy (707) 226-8774 or Ncvs@aol.com.
City of Palo Alto
Palo Alto's municipal government has used IPM techniques
since the early 1990s. In 2001, the city formed a committee
to adopt a citywide IPM policy. Using that policy, the
city halted use of some insecticides on city property
to avoid potential runoff problems. The IPM program
reduced rodent chemical control use by 80 percent; launched
specific IPM programs for weeds, yellowjackets, and
mice; and provided extensive IPM training and assistance
for city staff and the public. An annual IPM report
posted online provides public information on when, where,
and what pesticides are used on city property, and ranks
those pesticides on toxicity. The report also assesses
the progress of city departments in meeting IPM goals.
To help city residents reduce pesticide use in their
own homes and yards, Palo Alto's Web site http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/public-works/cb-pestpubs.html#banned
offers user-friendly IPM suggestions and resources.
Residents can also attend city-sponsored "Bug Buster!"
workshops for more help. On another front, the city
provides some funding for the regional "Our Water, Our
World" program. This regional pollution prevention effort
focuses on preserving Bay-area surface waters and distributes
IPM information online
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/public-works/cb-index.html and
through 174 commercial outlets, including hardware stores
and nurseries. Media contact: Environmental Specialist
Julie Weiss (650) 329-2117 or julie.weiss@cityofpaloalto.org.
Riverside Municipal Museum, Riverside
The museum is a department of the City of Riverside.
In 2000, the museum staff adopted an IPM plan to deal
with pest management issues unique to such a facility.
In the process, the museum created a model IPM program
for other museums and public agencies. Climate control
is used to reduce humidity and prevent mold and mildew
problems. Trapping controls rodents, and large freezer
chests are used to kill insect pests without damaging
museum specimens. The museum staff documents its pest
monitoring and prevention efforts using computer database
software. These efforts helped eliminate the use of
pesticides inside the museum, and the museum is now
renovating landscapes to reduce the need for pesticide
use outside the building. As part of an outreach program,
the museum has sponsored workshops and created exhibits
on IPM and pest management themes. More than 6,700 museum
visitors received information about these IPM activities
in 2002-03. Media contact: Communications officer Sharon
Cooley (909) 826-5997 or SCOOLEY@ci.riverside.ca.us.
U.C. Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program,
Santa Rosa
The Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Program
in Sonoma County provides IPM education and outreach
through its Pesticide Use Reduction Education (PURE)
project. Funded by a grant from the City of Santa Rosa,
this group of Master Gardeners provides a basic IPM
education aimed at residential audiences. The PURE project
demystifies IPM by making it more understandable and
accessible to the public. For example, the project developed
a system called "BUGS" to convey IPM concepts. (Be sure
you know the problem. Use common sense [tolerating some
level of pests]. Get physical [with traps, water sprays,
natural enemies]. Substitute less-toxic products.) The
project has developed notable outreach efforts, including
workshops and a demonstration garden at the Sonoma County
Fair. In two years, more than 50,000 people came in
contact with PURE through these efforts. Media contacts:
Paul Vossen (707) 565-2621 or pmvossen@ucdavis.edu,
and Alexandra Devarenne (707) 565-3444 or akicenik@ucdavis.edu.
Ventura Unified School District,
Ventura
Since 1999, the district has operated an IPM program
that has reduced herbicide use by 90 percent. Indoor
pesticides are restricted to pastes, gels, and baits.
With a student population of about 17,500, and 28 sites
that occupy 326 acres, the district has adopted some
innovative techniques to reduce the use of pesticides,
and save money on pest management. For example, teachers
and district staff control ants by eliminating their
trails, using plastic spray bottles filled with a soapy
solution. A hot water device used on weeds controls
them as effectively as a popular herbicide. Owl nesting
boxes have been installed on school property to attract
predators against rats, mice, and gophers. And a "zone
management system" was developed to identify areas where
weed control is needed, and where alternate controls
can be used. In addition to educating its own employees
on IPM, the district has encouraged IPM adoption through
seminars and news articles. Media contact: Operations
Manager Jorge Gutierrez (805) 289-7981 x1010 or jgutierrez@vtusd.k12.ca.us.
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