The Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) is warning its members of people trespassing onto farms after pesticide applications. The trade organization claims the Central California Environmental Justice Network is paying people to carry air monitoring equipment to detect pesticides, and these activists may attempt to enter a field or orchard immediately after a spray.
“The environmental justice community is resorting to using unproven and unapproved methods and equipment to attempt to demonstrate pesticides are impacting residents in these communities,” reads the WAPA alert. “We are concerned with just how far these activists will go to attempt to prove pesticide exposures.”
Interested in more coverage and insights? Receive a free month of Agri-Pulse West
The environmental justice group has been deploying community air monitoring sensors since 2014 and claims this has led to thousands of dollars in fines against polluting companies.
WAPA is urging members to contact the county sheriff and ag commissioner if they see any unauthorized persons near a field.
