Pesticide use in Mendocino County, CA

Agricultural lands play critical roles in addition to producing food and fiber. As an ecosystem agricultural lands serve an important environmental function preserving biological diversity, soil and water systems, and our landscape.

However, the adoption of intensive farming systems has led to limitations in production and environmental function. Limitations include increasing competition from pests including weeds, fungus, nematodes, and insects. The primary strategy used for eliminating these so-called "pests" has been the broad use of synthetic, chemically derived pesticides.

Most residents in Mendocino County are most likely unaware of the profuse utilization of industrial poisons in our small corner of the world and its potential cost to the health of residents and our ecosystems. Mendocino County uses nearly 1.5 million pounds, or 750 tons, of synthetic pesticides per year in all commercial sectors. Pesticides are readily used on the primary crops grown in Mendocino County; wine grapes and timber.

January, 2006: Download Report
Pesticide Use in Mendocino County's Timber and Winegrape Industries
This report offers an overview of the most widely used pesticides in Mendocino County, CA agriculture. It provides a scientific basis for commencing an educational campaign to promote understanding of the risks to human health and the environment from the most toxic of those pesticides, and to reducing their use.