Protecting people from farm pesticides in Stanislaus County | Opinion

More than 6 million pounds of agricultural pesticides were applied throughout Stanislaus County in 2021. Over 20%, or at least 1.3 million pounds, was Telone, a fumigant pesticide considered cancerogenic.

Telone, also known as 1,3-dichloropropene, is banned in 34 countries, but not in the United States. It is used on a wide range of crops, notably almonds in the Valley and strawberries on the coast. 1,3-D can drift for miles at harmful levels. One of the highest levels ever recorded — at an elementary school in Shafter in 2020 — likely came from a 1,3-D application more than seven miles away, according to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Toxic pesticides are applied to Stanislaus fields and orchards near 123 schools. Students who attend these schools, or live near where pesticides are applied, face higher health risks.

Valley Improvement Projects, alongside others, is fighting for better protection at the state level. But we should not wait for a relatively new Legislature to protect our local community if we have the power to implement local protective measures.

Currently, the law states that farmers within a quarter mile of a school or daycare must inform schools on a yearly basis of all pesticides they expect to use. These farmers are restricted in the method, time and date of certain applications.

The county agricultural commissioner relies on the farmer to ensure that applications like Telone, and other fumigants that are prone to drift, actually are applied outside this quarter-mile buffer zone and when children are not on campus.

Farmers are not obligated to label or mark their fields to identify where the quarter mile starts or ends. Labeling fields to show buffer zones is only recommended by the state. In Stanislaus County, not many farmers practice this recommendation.

Should we wait till something bad happens? Or should we be preventative and do what is best for the health and safety of the children now?

Require internet notice

Some farmers have good communication with neighboring schools. But unless it’s an obligation and not just a recommendation, we can’t always rely on farmers to do the right thing. We can help farmers ensure they will not expose children to toxic material by requiring them to confirm with the school district or principal that children are not on campus at the actual date and time of the application.

Stanislaus has the only pilot pesticide notification program still in effect in California. We ask that the ag commissioner update the program, based on community input, and expand it to the entire county. Web posting all notices of intent prior to application would allow for this expansion.

Increasing quick access to notices of intent through web posting is within their capacity. It will give all community members the opportunity to become aware of proposed applications, allowing us to take precautionary, protective measures. It also would relieve the burden of having to submit a public records request, a process that can take 10 days or even months.

People interested in protecting Stanislaus children, farmworkers and those who live, learn, work and play near farms can sign a petition and learn more at valleyimprovementprojects.org.