State Honors Leaders in Sustainable Pest Management at Annual Integrated Pest Management Achievement Awards
Julie Henderson
Director
Gavin Newsom
Governor
Jared Blumenfeld
Secretary for Environmental Protection
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on February 23 will honor five organizations – including a school district, a golf course and a winery – for their innovation and commitment to adopting safer, more sustainable pest management practices.
The 2021 Integrated Pest Management Achievement Awards spotlight organizations or individuals who are leading the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. IPM is any pest management approach that uses the least-toxic, effective method to solve pest problems. Using natural predators, hand-pulling weeds, and facilitating pest management communication and education are a few IPM examples used by the 2021 award winners.
The virtual ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. and can be viewed via webcast. The ceremony, hosted by DPR Director Julie Henderson, will feature live guest speakers, remarks from the winners, and congratulatory videos from legislators.
“The Integrated Pest Management Achievement Awards celebrate leaders helping to accelerate the adoption of safer and more sustainable approaches to pest management across the state,” Henderson said. “Each year, DPR recognizes winners whose work is critical to improving the health of all Californians and protecting our environment, while continuing to support a strong agricultural economy and effectively managing urban pests. I congratulate the 2021 award winners on their engagement and collaboration in implementing and promoting integrated pest management throughout California.”
DPR’s mission includes fostering the adoption of reduced-risk pest management, advancing the use of IPM and safer, more sustainable practices across urban areas, agricultural settings and wildlands. The state recognizes IPM leaders and innovators that are furthering the adoption of IPM and accelerating the use of more sustainable pest management across California.
Recipients of the 2021 IPM Achievement Awards:
The IPM Program at Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD)
This program has exemplified a districtwide dedication to practicing safe and effective IPM practices and serves as a model for implementing IPM programs in schools. In 2017, AUHSD created an IPM Technician position, filled by Rich Kravetz, to reduce pesticide use and implement IPM strategies across 21 school sites. The IPM Program focuses on adopting non-chemical and innovative programs such as raptor perches installed at multiple campuses to encourage raptors that can help manage landscape rodents. The district fosters communication among staff, regularly discussing IPM goals and providing education about addressing pest issues. The IPM Program at AUHSD has significantly reduced the use of insecticides and eliminated the use of rodenticides. Contact: Rich Kravetz
California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC)
Cal-IPC provides science-based tools and resources to control invasive weeds in California. Cal-IPC recently published the “Best Management Practices for Non-Chemical Weed Control” manual and released an interactive online tool called WeedCUT that helps users make informed decisions about managing weeds without using chemicals. Cal-IPC promotes IPM education by offering online trainings and encourages resource sharing by coordinating a yearly symposium and publishing an ongoing newsletter. Cal-IPC is a trusted and forward-thinking resource for IPM best practices for land managers and all Californians. Contact: Dr. Jutta Burger.
Metropolitan Golf Links
This golf course, located next to the San Francisco Bay, stands out as an IPM leader among California golf courses. By minimizing the use of pesticides, the golf course focused on non-chemical strategies to prevent weeds and plant diseases and eliminated the use of rodenticides. It promotes conservation and coexistence with the local environment by building pollinator sites and allowing flowering weeds that promote honeybee populations. Metropolitan Golf Links is a recognized environmental steward and IPM leader in the golf course industry. Contact: Gary Ingram.
Pisoni Family Vineyards
This high-end vintner in the Santa Lucia Highlands is a leader in sustainable vineyard practices. The vineyard puts sustainability at the forefront of its organization, and continually develops and implements new IPM practices to support this vision. The winery conducts extensive outreach efforts, including on-farm tours in a developed insectary, which highlights the importance of working with the native landscape. The vineyard is actively working to improve pest management strategies and share its successes with others. Contact: Mark Pisoni.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ (UC ANR) Urban IPM Advisors
The team of advisors – Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Dr. Niamh Quinn and Dr. Siavash Taravati – play important roles in encouraging IPM implementation in urban settings throughout California. As UC ANR’s Urban IPM Advisors, they conduct research, provide training, and publish resources to promote IPM adoption. Key research topics include urban IPM, organic herbicides, bait-only cockroach management programs, bedbugs, rodent and coyote management in the wildland-urban interface, red imported fire ants, and municipal IPM. The UC ANR Urban IPM Advisors are often the first source for the latest IPM research and education for real-world pest management strategies. Contact: Dr. Siavash Taravati.
DPR has recognized 169 organizations and individuals over 27 years for outstanding achievements in adopting innovative and sustainable pest management practices. Information about the IPM awards and previous winners can be located on DPR’s website. More information about IPM can also be found on the DPR Pest Management webpage.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering safer and sustainable pest management practices and operating a robust regulatory system to monitor and manage the sale and use of pesticides across the state. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting scientific evaluation of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment, monitoring for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 400 field inspectors. DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to safety information. DPR invests in innovative research to encourage the development and adoption of integrated pest management tools and practices. More information about DPR can be found on our website.
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