Connecting the Dots – PCA Conflicts of Interest Data
By Adam Tavares and Gary Silveria
Back in 2023 a study was funded by the Department of Pesticide Regulation through the Sustainable Pest Management Workgroup. The premise was to evaluate whether “sales PCAs” made different decisions then “independent PCAs” based on assumptions around sales structures and incentives.
Initially the results of the study were buried until the JLAC audit was initiated in June 2025. At that time, DPR presented a limited summary of the results which found that, regardless of their employment type, PCAs base their recommendations and advice to growers more on risk aversion (agronomics) than on financial incentives.
This study conducted by Jay Rosenheim and Michael Culshaw-Maurer was recently published in the Journal of Pest Science – Conflicts of interest, risk aversion, and pesticide use in California agriculture | Journal of Pest Science. Rosenheim additionally was generous enough to publish a summary in our own CAPCA Adviser – see December 2025 issue PCAs, Conflicts of Interest and Pesticide Use in California Agriculture on page 42.
So why does this matter to you? The PCA License was created back in 1972 due to the sales conflict. The whole premise of the license was built around eradicating that perception, but despite best efforts it continues to follow PCAs. In the late 1990’s there was proposed legislation to strip PCAs from any type of compensation model to reduce pesticide use. But CAPCA and industry stakeholders successfully fought back against this faulty assumption. But it continues to be pervasive in discussions around the Capitol, within Agencies and activist organizations. While this study is a solid data to point to educate around, it likely will not be enough to shift the tides of perception.
So what do we do about this? As CAPCA we continue to educate and support the productive evolution of the PCA License so that you can continue to serve as the trusted Adviser in your career space as the industry evolves. But CAPCA can’t do it for free, our Advocacy is building traction but requires constant staff attention, consultants, a strong PAC and engaged Committee. Recently, there has not only been a lot of criticism of associations, but an attitude that CAPCA has no value to your license without the ability to track all CE hours. We would ask you to consider, what value does your license have if it doesn’t exist due to poor assumptions or even the actions of bad actors within the licensing community? These things rise to the top without a watch dog voice like CAPCA rebutting the assumptions and bringing real world experiences and data back to the table. That is why we are proud to wrap up the PCA engagement portion of the CDFA grant that captured all the non-chemical decisions and actions you take every day in the field. From preliminary feedback, we understand this data tells the other side of the story, the why an application may be needed. In the absence of perspective on pest pressure, scouting and non-chemical actions, outside stakeholders can only draw conclusions on PCA behavior with the PUR. We know that use shifts from a variety of factors including seasonal pest pressure and climate factors, but from the outside, changes in use whether positive or negative are hard to distinguish.
The 2025 December Adviser article is just the start of an ongoing series of outreach opportunities to highlight data for PCAs and CAPCA to arm ourselves with as we move forward in California’s political landscape. We hope you will renew your membership and recognize the value of fighting for your license and industry. We hope you will encourage your employer to become a corporate partner in the coming year or even raise your commitment to invest in this discussion. We hope that you will consider attending local CAPCA Chapter events or even the CAPCA Conference for your CE requirements. CAPCA reinvests everything we earn right back into benefiting the PCA license. No one else is going to do that for you.
DPR Releases 2024 Air Monitoring Network Report
Air samples collected and tested in 2024 found no pesticide detections were above DPR’s health screening levels
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its 2024 Air Monitoring Network (AMN) Report, which analyzed over 200 samples collected in four California communities, comparing pesticide detections to health protective thresholds. Last year, no pesticides detected at DPR air monitoring stations exceeded those thresholds.
In 2024, 13 pesticides were detected at quantifiable levels, including 1,3-D, chloropicrin, methyl bromide (MeBr), and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). All were detected below health protection thresholds, which means health effects are unlikely to occur.
“Monitoring air in agricultural communities helps us better understand potential pesticide exposure and evaluate the effectiveness of our protections,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison.
DPR’s AMN includes four monitoring stations located in Oxnard, Shafter, Santa Maria and Watsonville — agricultural communities with high pesticide use. The stations collect weekly air samples, each of which is tested for 40 pesticides and breakdown products that have higher toxicity, use, or likelihood of becoming airborne.
SAVE THE DATE: DPR will host a series of virtual public meetings in December to provide information on the 2024 AMN Report for the communities where monitors are located.
More information on the meetings is available on DPR’s website.
— California Department of Pesticide Regulation
Link to Original Article (courtesy of Morning Ag Clips)
Photo by Geri Mis on Unsplash
Wonder where Pesticide Regulations are headed in California?
Start by reading the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap and DPR Strategic Plan. And make sure you renew your CAPCA membership because CAPCA is working tirelessly to make sure that the PCA is at the center of the discussion and solution to keep your career pathway moving forward.
Statewide Notification
AKA Spray Days is the new DPR program that launches on February 24, 2025, requiring all restricted material applications to be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of application and 48 hours in advance for fumigant materials. The regulations require compliance to start on February 24th, but DPR has up till March 26th to make Spray Days data available to the public.
What does this mean to me?
If you are a PCA in California recommending a restricted use material that requires a Notice of Intent, your timing between NOI and application may have changed depending on your current county conditions.
DPR has created a SprayDays Information Sheet for Growers and Pesticide Applicators to help address common question and concerns
Do I need to submit my NOI differently?
This regulation change requires electronic submission of your NOI to the county to meet the timing requirements above for Statewide Notification. If you are having issues submitting electronically, see Help My Internet is Down below for more information on conditions to submit a paper NOI.
Please note if you are already using a third party compliance system that submits your recommendation to CalAg Permits, you need to take no further action on submission, only note the updated submission window which may have changed depending on your county conditions.
For more information on Third Party Compliance Software tips see Compliance Software Tips
You can see the full updated text of regulations at:
https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/legbills/rulepkgs/23-003/dpr_23-003_oal_final_text_notification_revised.pdf
What has changed?
From an application perspective, two uniform notification windows have been applied statewide for both restricted materials and fumigants – 24 hours for Restricted Materials and 48 hours for Fumigants.
All NOIs once approved (once NOI is submitted, regardless of approved by CAC or not is live-“intended applications” will be in the system. This includes any NOI in error or deleted) by County Ag Commissioner will be made publicly available on Spray Days to interested parties in a 1 mile block radius (base line, meridian, township, range, and section, not a standard GIS measurement) based on the address they enter into the system. At this time, there is not broad public access to all NOIs.
What is the same?
Help, I need to apply now!
Contact your Ag Commissioner directly. Local discretion stayed intact with this regulation change, your County Ag Commissioner can exercise distention to waive the 24 or 48 hour notification under special circumstances if the application safety is at risk based on timing factors like weather. If you don’t know how to contact your Ag Commissioner visit the statewide association website at: County Info | CACASA and click on the permit county.
Help, my internet is down. What are my options to file a paper NOI?
See CCR 6434 (e) “undue hardship”. CAC has discretion to accept paper NOI, but note that the NOI’s will need to be received by the CAC earlier to provide time for CAC to enter that NOI digitally.
To see/search the full text of the final regulation text visit:
https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/legbills/rulepkgs/23-003/dpr_23-003_oal_final_text_notification_revised.pdf
Help, someone is trespassing on my property during an application – what do I do?
Contact your local law enforcement and ag commissioner. This has been an ongoing concern expressed by Agriculture during the process of developing these regulations – in addition, have your trespassing documented by your preferred commodity group or statewide representative – we want to know how often this is happening to document with decision makers the reality of our concerns.
More Information:
Visit DPR’s newly published, official SprayDays webpage: https://spraydays.cdpr.ca.gov
Compliance Software:
- Telus/Agrian: Statewide Notification brief for CAPCA.pdf
- Insert Ag World: CAPCA – Agworld 1-pager.pdf
In December 2024, the County Ag Commissioners posed several questions to the Department of Pesticide Regulation. The feedback to these questions can be found here.
To learn more about the new regulations and system visit: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pesticide_notification_network/
Wondering how to explain Statewide Notification to your neighbors or friends? You can find more information to help inform the public at: https://notificationsexplained.com/
Rats in the Valley
Rat Infestation Impact & Resources – Protecting Crops and Infrastructure with Strategic Solutions
As the season starts, we are pulling together a workshop for impacted PCAs and growers to hear field level experiences from others who have tried innovative ways to address their own rat populations. The agenda will additionally include opportunities like Crop Insurance and baseline pest monitoring to elevate the issue with clear data.
Join us for this workshop on Wednesday, March 25th 2026 at 9:00 am – To register for this free webinar, click HERE.
Key Resources (on this page):
- Coming soon – CDFA OPCA updated economic assessment for impacted almond and pistachio acres
- New video resources by CDFA and UC – follow the links below
- Revised CDFA Label for Zinc Phosphide Treated Grain (2.0%)
- CDFA OPCA Infographic: Chemical Rat Management in Agricultural Settings
- Memo: Crop insurance reporting and eligibility guidance
Did you peek the CAPCA managed bait stations on topic 11? If you haven’t already, request your two free bait stations by scanning the QR Code. You can add to your order and purchase additional stations on the same form. Free bait stations are available while supplies last.
Rat infestations have caused significant damage to irrigation systems, trees, field equipment, wiring, and critical infrastructure across agricultural operations. In response, since the fall of 2024, CAPCA has been actively engaged in working to identify solutions and support for the rat infestations scattered across the Central Valley.
Through partnerships with Western Growers and the Almond Board of California, CAPCA has developed a comprehensive survey to accurately measure the scale and economic impact of rat-related losses. Your voice is vital. Take action today by completing the Rodent Pests Resources Survey, linked on this page, to share your experiences and help strengthen the case for updated pest management resources.
The Vertebrate Pest Control Research Program has revised the CDFA label, Zinc Phosphide Treated Grain (2.0%). Refer to the updated label on this page.
Additionally, the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis has created an infographic to show which chemical options are allowed for rat control in various orchard and agricultural settings. See that infographic below.
For guidance on reporting procedures and insurance coverage eligibility, refer to the memo from Jack Roudebush, Advisor – Captive Strategist at HUB International Limited, available on this page.
CAPCA remains committed to bridging the gap between growers and industry leaders by disseminating vital knowledge and fostering collaborative solutions.
New video resources by CDFA and UC:
Blog post with video links:
Video Playlist link:
Rat Management Training – YouTube
Program webpage with video links:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Given that this infestation has reached a level beyond maintenance and requires an area wide coordinated approach to address the issue, we have worked with UC along with various commodity groups to provide the most up-to-date information for PCAs to access.
- See multiple CAPCA Adviser Articles, including the resources on this page, starting on p. 51
- See additional CAPCA Adviser Article on p. 66
- CAPCA worked with growers to provide OPCA vital details to deliver an economic impact memo on this evolving issue: CDFA Memo: Rat Damage in Almond Orchards
- Fresh Bait Available in key Counties – Visit CAC Fresh Bait summary
- Prior guidance from UC: Managing Roof Rats and Deer Mice in Nut and Fruit Orchards can be found here.
Do you want to sign up to be part of the solution and be on a list of applicators available for Counties to reference when growers are in need of application services? Click here to join the list.