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SACRAMENTO, November 24, 2025- California growers continue to face persistent and costly pest challenges that threaten crop yields, environmental health, and long-term farm viability. To help address these issues, the CDFA’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is awarding funding for two projects through the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant program.
BIFS supports the adoption of effective, economically viable alternatives to conventional pest management by fostering information exchange and leveraging a diverse network of stakeholders, including growers, pest control advisors, commodity groups, and scientists. Each four-year project under the program works to refine, demonstrate, and promote sustainable pest management (SPM) programs that address critical pest issues in California agriculture.
The first project, led by Sara Tiffany with Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), will advance SPM practices in California stone fruit orchards through incentivized biologically integrated trials and demonstrations. Using a participatory extension approach, the project will increase grower adoption of alternative practices to reduce pesticide use. This innovative structure aims to maximize change by minimizing financial risk and providing technical support using collaborative monitoring and extension to ensure sustained grower adoption and share practical SPM experience among growers and pest control advisors.
The second project, coordinated by American Pistachio Growers (APG) and led by Dr. Houston Wilson and collaborators from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, United States Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University, will implement a California-specific Decision Aid System (DAS) to support region-wide integrated pest management for the navel orangeworm, a key pest of pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. The DAS platform, initially developed by Washington State University, will provide real-time pest monitoring, phenology modeling, and management recommendations by integrating smart trap data with localized predictions and crop susceptibility across California.
Together, these projects offer a promising path forward giving growers new tools, collaborative support, and science-based strategies to reduce pesticide reliance, protect crops, and strengthen a more resilient agricultural future for California.
Detailed information on BIFS is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca/bifs.html
Information on the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca/
About the Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) OPCA is part of CDFA’s Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS), which is dedicated to supporting a sustainable and thriving future for California’s farmers and ranchers. With 90 percent of the state’s farms being family-owned and producing more than 400 crops—including one-third of the nation’s vegetables and over three-quarters of its fruits and nuts—California agriculture plays a vital role in the food system. These farms face growing challenges from drought, extreme heat, and evolving pest pressures. Through innovative programs, science-based approaches, and strong partnerships, OARS delivers practical tools and strategies to advance both environmental resilience and economic sustainability across the state’s diverse agricultural landscape.
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