Course Description
This course provides a detailed regulatory update on pesticides and pest management, focusing on the changing landscape and implications for almond growers. It discusses various regulations affecting pesticide use, such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act. The course highlights California’s roadmap for sustainable pest management, aiming to reduce chemical pesticide use by 2050. It also discusses regulatory initiatives by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the development of a statewide pesticide application notification system and changes to pesticide use regulations. The course emphasizes the need for growers to stay informed about regulatory updates and adapt their practices to meet changing requirements.
The course aims to educate participants about the regulatory challenges and implications of pesticide use in almond orchards, especially those related to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), as well as the importance of adopting sustainable pest management practices.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, learners will be able to:
- Use current and emerging regulations which impact almond production in California to plan for IPM implementation in the almond orchards in which they are involved.
- Identify the environmental impacts of pesticide usage beyond traditional regulations, considering laws such as the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, among others.
- Consider multiple market factors when planning IPM strategies for the orchards in which they are involved, including consumer expectations and retailers’ private standards related to pesticide usage.
- Anticipate and address emerging challenges in pesticide use, including proposed changes in application notification systems, updates to use protocols of products, and impacts of emerging regulation initiatives.
- Research and utilize the most promising IPM strategies for effective pest control in the almond orchards with which they are involved.
- Explain the challenges related to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in almond orchards, specific to widely used herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate and paraquat.
- Utilize research findings on glyphosate and glufosinate residues in almonds to plan for sustainable product usage in the orchards in which they are involved.
- Evaluate sustainability considerations in almond orchard weed management.
- Compare alternative approaches to almond orchard weed management.