[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Groups and Legislators Celebrate Success but Some Urge Caution that Schwarzenegger Administration has Other Plans

By Frank D. Russo

Yesterday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture(CDFA) reversed its previous decision to spray an untested pesticide over 9 highly urbanized coastal counties in an attempt to control the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM). Citizens groups and legislators celebrated this victory, but some urged caution, warning that aerial spraying will continue in parts of the state, as well as other controversial measures involving pesticides.

The CDFA reversal came after court suits blocked spraying in central California counties, legislation was making its way to the governor’s desk, and a public outcry which resulted in 29 cities and 3 counties passed resolutions against the spraying. Additional lawsuits were planned.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By A.G. Kawamura
Secretary
California Department of Food and Agriculture

I'd like to clarify a few points made in today's commentary concerning my department's plan to eradicate a ravenous pest from California. For more than a year now, in dozens of sessions and settings, I have met - in an open, transparent manner - with citizens and local officials about the moth eradication plans of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. And I remain committed to conducting this eradication program openly. Working with sound science and within the legislative process, we have established a system to protect California from invasive pests, diseases and other threats to our agriculture, environment and habitat. I look forward to working with legislators and constituents to continually improve this system.

California is no stranger to protests and political demonstrations, and we should all embrace such activities as vital to our public discourse. However, we should all collectively draw the line when misinformation is spread and causes unwarranted fear. Unfortunately, I feel that has happened in response to the campaign to eradicate the pest known as the light brown apple moth.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By John Russo
Farmer and Beekeeper
Carmel Valley

On May 13th in Monterey County, a new independent lawsuit challenged the state of emergency imposed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for the Light-brown Apple Moth (LBAM) eradication program. It legally declared that conditions of an emergency had not been met. It further requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prior to resuming the program in Monterey County. This lawsuit follows on the heels of a similar suit in Santa Cruz County and is a second blow to the CDFA’s poorly-planned and poorly-executed program.

This is a major victory for all of us concerned about the program. Buoyed by the success of the legal process, StopTheSpray.org announces our legislative strategy to permanently halt the CDFA use of pesticides over human populations to eradicate (LBAM).

The Light-brown Apple Moth (LBAM) was officially discovered in California in 2007 although it may have been in residence in the state for up to 30 years. The CDFA declared an administrative emergency, established quarantine zones and launched a multi-million dollar eradication program. The eradication program, which includes residential and urban areas, is at least in part motivated by international trade issues.