DPR Study Finds No Alternatives for 1,3-D or Chloropicrin Fumigation

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation today released an independent scientific study on possible alternatives to a pair of widely used fumigant pesticides: 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin. As you are all aware, the tree nut industry utilizes 1,3-D to kill soil pathogens before new trees are planted. Chloropicrin is a fumigant often paired with 1,3-D in soil fumigation. The study found that no currently available alternatives to 1,3-D and chloropicrin would work as a universal replacement for these fumigants. However, combinations of two or more alternatives could be effective for specific crops and pests. The researchers concluded that more research is needed to support effective, feasible and readily available approaches for pest management.  “These findings highlight key challenges with identifying and replacing higher risk pesticide uses with alternatives and the critical need for continued research as we work to increase access to discover more sustainable ways to manage pests,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. The Association closely monitors regulatory issues surrounding 1,3-D, and will continue to watch the work on 1,3-D. 

Federal EPA to Revisit PM2.5 Standard

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is revisiting the Biden PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which has raised serious concerns from states across the country and served as a major obstacle to permitting. “All Americans deserve to breathe clean air while pursuing the American dream. Under President Trump, we will ensure air quality standards for particulate matter are protective of human health and the environment while we unleash the Golden Age of American prosperity,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.  EPA is also announcing that it will soon release guidance to increase flexibility on NAAQS implementation, reforms to New Source Review, and direction on permitting obligations. This suite of actions advances cooperative federalism and begins to undo red tape holding back American exceptionalism. The U.S. has some of the lowest fine particulate matter levels in the world. Between 2000 and 2023, average PM2.5 concentrations in the U.S. fell by 37 percent and average PM10 concentrations similarly fell by 36 percent. This action is significant for California where at least seven areas were deemed non-attainment for the new 9 ug/m3 PM2.5 standard and would have had a very difficult time meeting this new standard. 

WTNA Board Heads to Sacramento

Last week the Board of Directors held a board meeting in Sacramento. In addition, they held a legislative reception and dinner with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting the tree nut industry in California, including water, energy prices, pesticide issues and air quality and safety regulations. Regulators that joined the group included Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (36th District), Assemblyman John Harabedian (41st District), Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (33rd District), Dr. Darshana Patel (76th District), Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (48th District), and Assemblyman David Tangipa (8th District). During the board meeting, the board discussed all of the regulatory issues and legislative issues the Association is currently tackling. The critical legislation including the State Budget, composting legislation, ag waste generation reporting and reauthorization of Cap & Trade. 

Isom Guest Lectures At Fresno State

Isom Guest Lectures at Fresno State

The Association’s President/CEO Roger Isom was a guest lecturer this past week for two (2) Ag Business 150 Classes at CSU Fresno.  Isom presented on port issues, impacts of retaliatory tariffs and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).  Isom stated “these students are the next generation of agricultural leaders in our community, and it is important to make sure they are knowledgeable on critical issues impacting agriculture.  I cherish this opportunity to contribute to their education and knowledge base.”

USDA FSA Hosting Disaster & Farm Loans Webinar

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 27th at 10 A.M. PST to discuss the agencies’ available Disaster Program funding and other support programs for producers.  The webinar will cover a wide variety of resource programs made available, such as direct farm operating loans, loan assistance tools, and programs available specifically for new farmers and ranchers.

If you are interested in attending, please follow the instructions on the link here: USDA FSA Webinar - Registration

  1. Bureau Announces Initial Allocation of 35% for South of Delta
  2. WTNA Speaks in Support of Increase in Incentive Funds for Low Dust Harvesters
  3. LAST CALL: Free Labor Law Update Webinar - Feb. 24th at 10:00 AM
  4. Fight Against Rat Infestation Continues

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Governor Signs Ag Overtime Bill

Ignoring the pleas of real farmworkers and the agricultural industry, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed AB 1066, the ag overtime legislation. This means that California will have the most stringent trigger of any state in the country for overtime for farmworkers, with 45 states having no overtime protection at all. The Governor signed this bill, supposedly to bring “equality to all workers”, yet taxi cab drivers, commercial fishermen, car salesmen, student nurses, computer programmers, and carnival workers all work without any overtime provisions whatsoever. The Governor signed this ag overtime bill in the same year that minimum wage legislation was also passed that will take California to the highest minimum wage as well as legislation forcing California to adopt additional greenhouse gas regulations for businesses in California. California is the only state in the country subject to such regulations. Today’s signing occurred despite numerous requests by the agricultural industry to meet with the Governor to discuss our concerns. The message is clear. California simply doesn’t care. These provisions will be phased in over the next few years ending with the overtime provisions to be triggered at 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

In the Beginning As folks transitioned out of cotton and into tree nuts, the industry recognized the need to have active and effective representation at the local, state and national levels. Having enjoyed such effective representation over the years from the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, these folks yearned for the same representation in the tree nut processing industry. Issues such as air quality, food safety, labor, taxes, employee safety, and environmental concerns are at the forefront, and there is a significant need for an aggressive and dynamic Association to lead the industry into the next decade and beyond. In recognition of this, the Western Agricultural Processors Association was created in 2009. The Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) shares staff and office space with the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations taking advantage of a unique and opportunistic situation. WAPA is a voluntary dues organization with four shared staff and one dedicated staff person. Regulatory, legislative and legal issues fall under the purview of this new organization for the tree nut processing industry, which includes almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. From air quality permits to conditional use permits, from regulatory hearings on greenhouse gases to federal legislation on food safety, and from OSHA violations to assisting members on hazardous materials business plans, no issue is too small or too large for WAPA. WAPA has assembled one of the best and most capable staffs in the industry, and the results are already starting to show Membership The Western Agricultural Processors Association represents facilities involved in the processing of almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.Membership in the Association is classified as Regular memberships are limited to almond hullers or processors, pecan and pistachio processors, and walnut dehydrators and processors. Associate memberships are limited to any individual or business entity which is not engaged in agricultural processing, but which provides products or services directly related to the agricultural processing industry. WAPA Associate members include, but are not limited to, commodity brokers, accounting firms, and insurance brokers. Organization The Western Agricultural Processors Association is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by its membership.The Board consists of up to 15 members from throughout the state, and throughout the industry.The Board meets on a quarterly basis and conducts an Annual Meeting in the spring of each year.WAPA, in conjunction with the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, conducts a special training school for its members focused on safety.In combination with the school, the Association holds a Labor Management Seminar for all of the managers. Consulting Services In researching and considering the concept of forming a new organization, the Boards of Directors for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations instructed staff to perform some of the work on a consulting basis first. The point was to determine the workload from consulting and to determine if there was sufficient interest. In November of 2007, the Association began conducting services under consulting contracts for such services as air quality permits and safety plans.The effort has been so successful that demand has progressed outside the tree nut industry into other agricultural processing facilities, including vegetable dehydration facilities, tomato processing facilities, and wheat mills, as well as cotton gins in Arizona.It was determined by the new Board of Directors of WAPA, that WAPA would maintain the consulting services to provide offsetting income to help with the expenses of getting the new organization up and running.Today, WAPA provides for a long list of satisfied clients in the agricultural processing industry, by providing critical services such as air quality, safety, food safety, and environmental issues (Hazardous Materials Business Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans, etc.).