Water Quality Program - Nutrients & Pesticide Management

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) was established in 1980 to develop methods and educational materials to reduce the pesticide load in the environment while maintaining economically sustainable agricultural growing practices. For more information on the UC IPM, please visit UC IPM Online.

Information and education on new plant varieties, fertilizers, and irrigation techniques combine to provide growers with the tools necessary to fertilize crops efficiently and cost effectively while at the same time, reducing the environmental loading. New technologies for precision agriculture, in which satellites and remotes sensing are used to aid with spatially variable applications of fertilizers and other chemicals are beginning to be available to Cooperative Extension specialists and shared with the growing community.

Another layer of statewide support for nutrient management comes from the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. The program is designed to support research on sustainable agricultural practices and to educate farmers through publications and on-farm demonstrations.

Court Ordered Buffers Around Pacific Salmon-Supporting Waters: Pesticide buffer zones in Washington, Oregon, and California were established by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on January 22, 2004. The Court Order became effective February 5, 2004. EPA has posted an interactive map for court ordered buffers as they apply to California. Background Information is also available.