In a recent meeting with growers, covered by the Lake County News, I was quoted as saying that new dormant spray regulations by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation were unenforceable.

Unfortunately, this was a poor choice of words, and I want to clarify my intentions.

As with any new pesticide law or regulation, I will work with the regulated community to promote full compliance. These new regulations were created to protect our waterways from pesticide contamination during the winter months, when runoff may pose a hazard.

Fortunately, many of our local growers are already ahead of the curve. They have won statewide recognition for reduced-risk pest management practices that reduce or eliminate the need for dormant sprays.

This regulation may hold challenges, but growers bear the ultimate responsibility for complying with the rules, and it is my job to enforce them. I encourage all members of the Lake County agricultural community to contact my office if they are unclear about these new requirements.

Steve Hajik

Lake County Agricultural Commissioner

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