CDPR Proposes Statewide Advance Pesticide Application Notification System

Courtesy of the Western Agricultural Processors Association

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has noticed a proposed regulation for a statewide system that will provide the public with information prior to intended applications of restricted material pesticides in California. Currently, applicators must be licensed, obtain a permit and provide notice to the county agricultural commissioner prior to applications of restricted material pesticides. The proposed regulation would require information about restricted material applications for the production of an agricultural commodity to be submitted electronically to DPR for public posting through a new statewide information system 24 hours prior to intended restricted material pesticide applications except for soil fumigant restricted materials, which would be posted 48 hours before an intended application. DPR is holding three public hearings on the regulation: Dec. 13 in Clovis, Dec. 14 in Ventura and Dec. 19 in a virtual setting. The department is additionally accepting written comments on the proposed regulation between Nov. 3, 2023, and Jan. 12, 2024.
The proposed regulation follows a two-year period of outreach conducted by DPR to inform development of the statewide information system, including four focus groups and eight public meetings held between 2021-2022 and a series of pilot projects hosted by four counties to test elements of system design in 2022.

DPR is hosting three public hearings to collect oral and written comments on the proposed regulation.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.
Clovis Veterans Memorial District
Memorial Auditorium
808 4th Street
Clovis, California 93612
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.
Ventura County Fairgrounds
Santa Rosa Hall
10 West Harbor Boulevard
Ventura, California 93001
VIRTUAL Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.
Held on Zoom
Webinar ID: 873 2837 5612
Passcode: 221172
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California Ag Today2023-11-27T13:21:48-08:00November 27th, 2023|

EPA ESA Herbicide Strategy: Call for Action

Courtesy of Western Agricultural Processors Association

As many of you know, EPA currently has out for public comment a proposal (the herbicide strategy) to require agricultural herbicide users to adopt greater use restrictions aimed at reducing runoff/erosion and spray drift risks to endangered species. While this proposal would impact most agricultural herbicide users across the lower 48 states, producers in four pesticide use limitation areas (PULA) established by the proposal (see PULA map here) could be subject to greater restrictions.

EPA needs to hear from growers, so we need every grower possible to sign on. To help our members with this, our agricultural coalition working on this issue has drafted a letter for individual growers to sign on to. It is a petition style letter, so you do not have to cut and paste. Simply click on this link: the sign-on link and answer the four questions and your name will be attached to the letter. This needs to be done by October 20^th. If you are a gin, huller or processor, please forward to all your growers and urge them to sign on too! If you have any questions, please let us know.

California Ag Today2023-10-05T08:11:00-07:00October 5th, 2023|

EEOC Releases Updated ‘Know Your Rights’ Poster

Western Agricultural Processors Association

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a new ‘Know Your Rights’ poster, which updates and replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster. Covered employers are required by federal law to prominently display the poster at their work sites. The EEOC’s web page for the poster provides information about where to post it. The poster also includes a QR code for applicants or employees to link directly to instructions for how to file a charge of workplace discrimination with the EEOC. A number of the laws that the EEOC enforces require covered employers to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. The poster summarizes these laws and explains that employees or applicants can file a charge if they believe that they have experienced discrimination. The poster shares information about discrimination based on:

• Race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, religion,
• Age (40 and older),
• Equal pay,
• Disability,
• Genetic information (including family medical history or genetic tests or services), and includes
• Retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding.

The new “Know Your Rights” poster includes these changes:

• Uses straightforward language and formatting;
• Notes that harassment is a prohibited form of discrimination;
• Clarifies that sex discrimination includes discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity;
• Adds a QR code for fast digital access to the how to file a charge webpage;
• Provides information about equal pay discrimination for federal contractors.

The poster is available in English and Spanish and will be available in additional languages at a later date. The posters should be placed in a conspicuous location in the workplace where notices to applicants and employees are customarily posted. In addition to physically posting, covered employers are encouraged to post a notice digitally on their websites in a conspicuous location. In most cases, electronic posting supplements the physical posting requirement. In some situations (for example, for employers without a physical location or for employees who telework or work remotely and do not visit the employer’s workplace on a regular basis), it may be the only posting. Covered employers are subject to fines for noncompliance. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that notices of Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination be made available in a location that is accessible to applicants and employees with disabilities that limit mobility. To download or print a copy of the poster, click here: Know Your Rights Poster.

California Ag Today2022-10-20T10:30:29-07:00October 20th, 2022|

Western Ag Processors Association’s Priscilla Rodriguez Completes Prestigious Ag Leadership Program

By Western Agricultural Processors Association

A journey began on October 10^th, 2019 that lasted for more than 27 months, and finally came to a conclusion for the Association’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Priscilla Rodriguez, on February 5, 2022.

This journey covered a span of more than 27 months, and included meetings that covered more than 125 days, not including travel and study time. It included trips to Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC, as well as Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Rodriguez was one of 24 members of the historic Class 50 of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation program who completed their program where it began at California State University – Fresno on February 5^th.

Disrupted by the Covid Pandemic, but not deterred, Class 50 weathered the storm to complete their program this past month. Rodriguez had the distinct honor addressing the commencement for Class 50 by giving the opening speech. In her comments, she began by stating “We started this program as strangers, quickly became friends and ultimately family. The bonds and friendships created through the program will continue on for years to come. We may all have different stories, but one thing is true for all of us. This program made a lasting impact through the books we read, people we met and the unforgettable experiences we lived.” She ended her opening remarks by encouraging her classmates “As we move forward in our lives, I challenge us to continue to be open minded, inquisitive, empathetic, passionate, resilient, and grateful, and leave your impact on your families, communities, ag industry, and the world.”

Truly words to live by, not just for her colleagues, but for all of us.

Association President/CEO Roger Isom remarked after the event, “Priscilla was made for the CALF program and the CALF program was made for her. The Association is incredibly proud of her for this accomplishment and her speech is indicative of her growth, and just the type of leader she has started to become. The Association and the agricultural industry are lucky to have her.”

California Ag Today2022-02-15T09:21:55-08:00February 15th, 2022|

FDA Postpones Water Rule in Produce

FDA Postpones Produce Safety Rule Water Compliance for Farms and Releases New Proposed Changes

From the Western Agricultural Processors Association

The Association was notified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about today’s announcement on postponing FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule water compliance requirements, subpart E, which was set to begin in January 2022. The agency intends to exercise enforcement discretion for the agricultural water requirements for covered produce while the proposing changes to the current water requirements.

The proposed rule that would revise subpart E of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule to change certain pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce other than sprouts. Key provisions in the proposed rule include:

A requirement for farms to manage their agricultural water quality based on the results of a comprehensive systems assessment (“agricultural water assessment”) that is adaptable to the wide variety of water sources and uses and future scientific advancements.

An annual assessment by farms of their pre-harvest agricultural water to identify any conditions likely to introduce hazards into, or onto, covered produce or food contact surfaces. Based on these assessments, farms would then determine whether corrective or mitigation measures are reasonably necessary to reduce the potential for contamination. The assessment would include an evaluation of the farm’s water system, agricultural water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions and other relevant factors, such as the results of any testing conducted to inform the assessment.

A requirement that farms implement expedited mitigation measures for hazards related to certain activities associated with adjacent and nearby lands, to protect the quality of the water used on produce. This is being included following several recent outbreak investigations on produce that revealed potential routes of contamination including activities and conditions, such as animal grazing and the presence of livestock and wildlife on land adjacent to, or near, produce farms or their water sources.

The removal of certain testing requirements for pre-harvest agricultural water and replacing them with the agricultural water assessments identified above. The proposed revisions are intended to address stakeholder concerns about complexity and practical implementation challenges while protecting public health.

California Ag Today2021-12-14T16:53:49-08:00December 14th, 2021|