Below is a press release from the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
A full list of grant recipients can be found on the online press
release at http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pressrls/pmgrant1.htm. for
further information, contact Dr. Nan Gorder at (916) 324-4100
<ngorder@cdpr.ca.gov> Media contact Veda Federighi or Glenn Brank at
916/445-3974
**********
Kathy Brunetti, Senior Land and Water Analyst
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
830 K Street, Sacramento, California, USA 95814
**********
January 25, 2000 (00-03)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DPR Awards $588,000 for Nature-Friendly
Pest Management Grants
SACRAMENTO -- The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has
awarded $588,250 to support 19 projects that promote
environmentally-friendly pest management. DPR's fifth annual Pest
Management Grants range from urban school gardens to large-scale
farming operations, and include projects to help growers work in
harmony with their residential neighbors.
"A measure of our success can be seen in the fact that 13 of
these 19 grants were funded last year, and are being renewed for
2000," said DPR Director Paul E. Helliker. "These projects won more
support because they showed results with reduced-risk pest management
techniques. DPR wants to encourage promising work that protects
people and the environment."
DPR awarded grants totaling $359,500 to ten demonstration
projects that are ready for practical use. Another nine grants
designated for applied research received $228,750 for experimental
projects. Recipients were chosen from among 50 proposals received by
the Department's 2000 Pest Management Grants program. Individual
grants ranged from about $12,000 to $50,000. (A list of grants and
recipient organizations is attached.)
Helliker said DPR gave priority to projects that protect
water quality, identify alternatives to high-toxicity chemicals --
including methyl bromide and other fumigants -- and encourage more
reliance on integrated pest management. IPM is an approach that
emphasizes working with nature and minimal use of chemicals.
Six new projects funded under the Pest Management Grant Program will:
*Evaluate the potential of replacing the fumigant methyl bromide with
a combination of ozone gas and beneficial microorganisms
($22,000).Strawberry and tomato field trials will be conducted in
Orange and Santa Cruz counties by researchers from the University of
California at Davis.
*Promote pest monitoring and other IPM techniques in Sonoma County
vineyards ($50,000). Monitoring for insects, mites, their natural
enemies, and diseases is a critical element in reduced-risk pest
management.
*Fund the aerial release of tiny, parasitic wasps to control the
codling moth, a major walnut pest in six Central Valley counties
($29,500). The project supplements previous research supported by DPR
to provide walnut growers with a natural alternative to chemical pest
control.-
*Underwrite the "Kids in Gardens" program established by the Aquatic
Outreach Institute ($50,000). This non-profit environmental
organization received a 1999 IPM Innovator Award from DPR. The
project will train teachers in the San Francisco Bay area to educate
students about preventing pollution from pesticides in urban water
runoff.
* Fund a demonstration and outreach effort directed at central coast
winegrape growers ($50,000). The Central Coast Vineyard Team, an
industry group, has developed a model vineyard profile that
integrates soil, water, pest, and viticultural practices to reduce
dependence on chemicals.
*Evaluate the use of plastic and cover crop mulches to reduce the
need for chemical applications to fresh market tomatoes ($11,910).
Grant awards were recommended by the Pest Management Advisory
Committee (PMAC), which DPR consults on a wide range of issues. The
PMAC includes representatives from conventional agriculture, organic
farming, government agencies, environmental groups, the University of
California, and California State University.
Since 1996, DPR has awarded more than $4.9 million for
reduced-risk pest management projects.
In addition to the Pest Management Grants, DPR plans to award
approximately $800,000 to continue its Pest Management Alliance
Program in 2000. Alliances support larger scale efforts in applied
research and demonstration projects for IPM.
DPR also recently announced 14 preliminary Alliance grants to
fund pest management evaluations for commodities and urban sites.
These evaluations are the first step in the competition for final
grant awards of up to $100,000 each. Evaluation funding was awarded
to:
The California Tomato Commission of Fresno, Western United
Dairymen of Modesto, Agrilynx Corporation of Chula Vista (turkey
production), California Cut Flower Commission of Watsonville and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture IR-4 (field grown flowers,
ornamentals, and nursery crops), California Association of Winegrape
Growers of Sacramento, University of California at Davis (rice
production), California Strawberry Commission of Watsonville, Marin
County Agricultural Commissioner's Office (schools IPM), Citrus
Research Board of Visalia, Almond Board of California, Modesto,
California Tree Fruit Agreement of Reedley, California Pear Advisory
Board of Sacramento, and the UC Riverside Department of Entomology
(containerized nursery). Evaluation funds ranged from $500 to $5,000.
Evaluations will also be conducted by the Walnut Marketing
Board of Sacramento; and the California Beet Sugar Industry Research
Committee and Spreckels Sugar Company, Woodland. No funds were
requested for those evaluations.
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