Association Pushes Back on 1 Mile Buffer Zone

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations (CCGGA) participated in a meeting of agricultural organizations the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) opposing the idea of a one mile buffer zone one pesticide and fumigation applications being pushed by pesticide activist groups including the United Farm Workers (UFW) and the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA).  The concept of a one mile buffer zone on all pesticide and fumigation applications has been raised in recent months by the activists in the CDPR Initiative to address “Pesticides Use Near Schools”.  The UFW and PANNA have submitted several form letters and postcards.  To combat that effort, CCGGA along with the Western Agricultural Processors Association, the Nisei Farmers League, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Citrus Mutual, California Agricultural Aircraft Association, and the Western Plant Health Association met with CDPR Director Brian Leahy to express our frustration with the effort and call for CDPR to continue to use sound science when making regulatory decisions on buffer zones.  CCGGA President/CEO Roger Isom presented Director Leahy with over 500 agricultural industry letters from actual California farmers, processors and allied industry calling for CDPR to make policy decisions based on science.  If you haven’t sent in a letter, we strongly encourage you to do so.  The time is now for your voice to be heard!