Effective March 24, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) launched SprayDays California, a first-of-its-kind statewide system designed to provide transparent, accessible and timely notifications and information about the use of specific pesticides, called “restricted material pesticides.”
Restricted material pesticides are a category of pesticides subject to California’s strictest regulations, including requirements on where they can be used, who can use them and how they can be used.
Accessible at cdpr.ca.gov/SprayDays, the SprayDays California website provides information online, and through email and text message notifications, 48 hours before the intended use of soil fumigants, a type of restricted material pesticide, and 24 hours before the intended use of other restricted material pesticides used on farms. Website visitors can search for scheduled applications anonymously using a map or enter any California postal address to view applications planned within a one-square-mile area. Users can also opt-in to notifications about scheduled applications near a specified address using a cell phone number or email address.
“Managing pests—such as insects, rodents and weeds—is vital for protecting public health, the environment, the stability of our food supply and maintenance of our infrastructure,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “SprayDays California was developed through extensive public engagement to improve access to information and enhance understanding of California’s strong pesticide regulatory framework. This system is a significant step forward for DPR in fostering awareness and transparency. We look forward to continuing to refine SprayDays with feedback and engagement from all Californians.”
SprayDays provides the location of applications in one-square-mile sections, which aligns with the location information that is submitted by growers or applicators prior to the use of a California restricted material pesticide. It also provides information about the pesticide product’s name, its active ingredients (the chemicals that make the pesticide work), the application method, the number of treated acres and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration number. SprayDays is also a resource for information on pesticide safety and how pesticides are regulated in California.
Information on pesticide applications will be available on the website for four days following the scheduled date and time of the planned application. This timeframe reflects permitting program requirements, which allow growers or pesticide applicators to begin their application during that period, accommodating potential delays due to weather, changes in pest presence or the effectiveness of other pest management methods.
For more information, visit cdpr.ca.gov/SprayDays. To learn how to sign up for notifications view how-to videos or review step-by-step fact sheets.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by fostering sustainable pest management and regulating pesticides. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting pre- and post-registration scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment from pesticides, and enforcing pesticide use laws and regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors. DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to pesticide safety information.
