Field and Row Crop Sprayers - Tips and Techniques
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CURES Update - September 2002
CALFED Awards CURES Second Grant
In mid-September we received news that our water quality proposal submitted to the CALFED Drinking Water program was recommended for full funding. The two-phase project, “Orestimba Creek Watershed – Agricultural Water Quality Pilot Program,” will develop and promote agricultural management practices and on-farm treatment technologies that reduce pesticide, nutrient and sediment runoff carried by irrigation water into Orestimba Creek and the San Joaquin River. The two-year, $275,000 grant will help CURES and project partners California Water Institute, Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, Ducks Unlimited and Geomatrix Consultants identify and evaluate management practices to protect surface water. Phase 1 project work is expected to begin in Summer 2003 along with development of a Phase 2 plan and funding proposal.
Work Begins on First CALFED Project
This three-year project began in August, funded by the CALFED Watershed Program, “Promotion of Farming Best Management Practices to Mitigate OP Pesticide Runoff into the Sacramento River Watershed”, includes distributing publications on dormant orchard spray BMPs along with presentations to grower and PCA audiences over the next three winters. CURES is working with the Almond Board of California, California Dried Plum Board and crop protection product retailers in the Sacramento Valley to facilitate outreach on protecting water quality from runoff of dormant orchard sprays.
Second Year of PCO Outreach Program Kicks Off
The PCO (Pest Control Operator) program is funded by urban stormwater agencies in the cities of Sacramento and Modesto. CURES Executive Director Parry Klassen made the first of six presentations for the project to 300 commercial pest control operators in Stockton in early September. The presentation covers best management practices that PCOs can use to prevent pest control products from entering urban waterways. Distributed at the meetings is the CURES publication "Tips and Techniques for Protecting Water Quality: Turf Management, Parks and Recreation".
High Marks from Sacramento Valley Rice Growers
Sacramento Valley rice growers gave CURES high marks for a 2002 pesticide stewardship program. A recently completed survey of rice growers showed high recall and approval for the rice pesticide stewardship program completed last winter. The CURES program was sponsored by Syngenta with support from the California Rice Commission, DowAgro Sciences, Valent, Helena, John Taylor Fertilizers and the California Rice Research Board. At meetings last winter, rice growers and PCAs received an 8-page publication entitled “Rice Pesticide Stewardship: What Growers and Applicators Need to Know About Applying Herbicides, Insecticides and Fungicides” along with a poster map of Sacramento Valley showing compliance monitoring sites for water and air quality located throughout the region.
CURES Distributes Stewardship Booklets
For the third year, CURES distributed more than 5,000 stewardship booklets for the Sulfur Task Force. English and Spanish booklets emphasize drift management practices were sent to grower groups, crop protection retailers and county Agricultural Commissioners.
CURES Receives "Outstanding Brochure" Rating
The Washington Department of Ecology gave an "Outstanding Brochure" rating to "Keeping Pest Control Products out of Creeks, Rivers and the Ocean: Homeowner Tips on Protecting Water". The Department of Ecology described the CURES publication as "thorough in covering what to do to use a pesticide responsibly". More than 10,000 brochures have been distributed to urban homeowners in Washington, Oregon and California.
Jasper Hempel Joins CURES Board
The CURES Board of Trustees welcomes Jasper Hempel of Western Growers Association as its newest member. Mr. Hempel joins Board Chairman Len Richardson, California Farmer magazine; Dennis Kelly, Syngenta; Mark Layman, Helena Chemical Co.; Jim Poorbaugh, Monrovia Nursery; Lon Records, Target Specialty Products; and Bryan Stuart, Dow AgroSciences.
CURES Partners with San Joaquin River Authority
The San Joaquin River Group Authority has signed on CURES to become a cooperating partner in a Water Quality Framework that will help guide irrigation districts, commodity groups and other partners through the Clean Water Act TMDL process in the San Joaquin River watershed, including development and promotion of best management practices.
U.S. Committee on Irrigated Agriculture Includes CURES
The U.S. Committee on Irrigated Agriculture is including CURES in its lineup of speakers for its conference “Helping Irrigated Agriculture Adjust to TMDLs.” The presentation by Parry Klassen, “Developing Implementation Plans for the San Joaquin River” will describe efforts by CURES, agriculture and crop protection stakeholders to identify management practices for pesticide runoff. The conference is scheduled for October 22-26 in Sacramento.
Farmworker Training Manual
Requests are still coming in for the farmworker training manual “Proteccion de su Salud: Proteccion de Trabajadores Expuestos a Pesticidas.” Since the last printing in May 2000, more than 110,000 copies have been distributed throughout California and the U.S.
CURES Support Grows
Support continues to build for CURES stewardship programs. The following are supporting CURES activities and projects in 2002: Aventis, California Plant Health Association, California Rice Commission, California Rice Research Board, City of Sacramento, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Fieldwise, FMC Corporation, Gowan, Helena Chemical Company, Makhteshim-Agan North America, Metam-Sodium Task Force, Metropolitan Water District, Mid Valley Ag, Pest Control Operators of California, Monsanto, Syngenta, Tessenderlo-Kerley, TriCal Inc., Valent, Western Farm Service, and Wilbur-Ellis Co./John Taylor Fertilizers. This support greatly enhances CURES ability to fulfill its mission of creating programs and distributing materials that promote stewardship of crop protection and pest control products.
Join the CURES Stewardship Effort
Want to join the CURES stewardship bandwagon and contribute to this worthy effort? Support our programs in either agriculture or urban areas: it’s good for the environment and your company or organization. For more information, contact Len Richardson at 925-687-1662 or lrichardson@farmprogress.com or Parry Klassen at 559-325-9855 or parry@curesworks.org or contact CURES directly.
For information on CURES, contact Parry Klassen: parry@curesworks.org.
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