Can California do better to alert neighbors of farm spraying? Absolutely
Did you know that Stanislaus is one of only four counties in the state experimenting with a Pesticide Notification System that could become a model for all of California?
As a result of advocacy from farmworkers and environmental justice communities, the state government allocated $10 million to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to develop a statewide pesticide notification system.
This year, agricultural commissioners in Stanislaus, Riverside, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties volunteered to implement a pilot notification program that would potentially be used to inform a statewide system. For our county’s pilot, Ag Commissioner Kamal Bagri chose the community of Grayson, the small, rural town north of Patterson.
All four pilots programs are different and have had their share of challenges, including the one in Grayson.
Each pilot is unique. Most alert people by text or email; one makes you check a website. Some only notify residents about one type of pesticide; others, about several. Most revolve around specific towns; one focuses on senior citizens.
All, including Stanislaus, have significant flaws in common. For example, none provides the exact location of spraying in alerts, and all are limited to a 1-mile radius even though pesticides can drift more than seven miles. And all but one only give a 24-hour notice (Ventura gives 36 hours).
Also, all three counties that notify by email or text require you provide your name in your registration. In agricultural areas, those registering could be undocumented farmworkers or even an employee of the farmer who is spraying, and may not want to provide their name.
Successful programs need to be replicated and expanded to be accessible to all California residents.
Although the pilots have not been assessed, DPR has released a proposed system which is limited and insufficient. DPR proposes to notify only about “restricted” pesticides -- the most hazardous classification, although all can cause harm. Also, they only provide a 24-hour advanced notice, and are limited to a 1-mile radius. Further, notifications do not include a map showing the exact spraying location. Spraying could be happening right next door or a mile away and you wouldn’t know for sure.
The funny thing is, more advanced pesticide notification programs already exist. The “Bee Where” program and Kern County’s farmer-to-farmer notification system are good examples. Kern’s program allows for more than a 24-hour advanced notice and includes more than just restricted pesticides. Monterey County has a notification system for schools which includes a map. We can also learn from other types of alert systems that exist for air quality, child abduction, wild fires, and more.
If we want the pesticide notification system to be successful, it must be transparent and equitable. Stanislaus can lead the state by:
Web posting all pesticide applications, with an option to sign up to receive text or email alerts.
Only require a cellphone number or an email for alerts.
Include a map and exact location of the spraying in the notification.
Provide notifications for all pesticides that have been determined to be harmful, not just restricted.
Provide at least 72-hour advance notice.
Provide alerts for a 10-mile radius, or more, from as many locations as you choose (so you can pick your home, your workplace, multiple schools).
What can you do to be involved?
Contact Valley Improvement Projects (valleyimprovementprojects@gmail.com) to learn more. Contact the county ag comissioner and request they make improvements listed here. Contact DPR (ProjectNotify@cdpr.ca.gov) and tell them to fully fund the pilots and include these improvements in their plans as well.
Sign up for notifications of spraying in Grayson. Subscribe for updates about the statewide notification system through DPR’s website. Support and advocate for organic farming.