In a report released Tuesday by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), pesticide emissions from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) increased just 1% in 2019 in the San Joaquin Valley.
Although the emissions remain below the level that would trigger new federal regulations, DPR calculates emissions from high-VOC products differently and through 2021 is continuing some added restrictions that address this.
Fumigant emissions, specifically, grew by 12% since 2018, according to the report. DPR has been pursuing a pilot program in the valley for farmers to voluntarily reduce emissions from the fumigant 1,3-D, known as Telone. Staff reported last week, however, that the air monitoring side of the program has had to slash the number of days it can sample for 1,3-D due to state budget cuts.
Overall, almonds had the highest portion of emissions by commodity, at 33%. On the other end, tangerines decreased emissions by 77%.
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