{"id":70,"date":"2025-03-28T18:23:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T18:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/?p=70"},"modified":"2025-04-02T21:01:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T21:01:52","slug":"what-is-the-office-of-pesticide-consultation-and-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/what-is-the-office-of-pesticide-consultation-and-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The California Department of Food and Agricultur<\/a>e\u2019s (CDFA\u2019s) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis<\/a> (OPCA) was formed in 1992 following the formation of CalEPA\u2019s Department of Pesticide Regulation<\/a> (DPR). Prior to this time CDFA was responsible for pesticide regulation in the state. OPCA’s primary role is to provide DPR with impact analyses of proposed pesticide regulations, specifically actions detailed in Food and Agriculture Code (FAC) Section 11454.2. The consultative arrangement was established primarily to ensure that the economic impacts on California’s agricultural industry would be evaluated before the adoption of new pesticide regulations. OPCA is funded through the pesticide mill assessment collected by DPR for CDFA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, OPCA consists of five scientists with backgrounds mainly in agricultural entomology. We work closely with UC Cooperative Extension scientists and agricultural economists while doing analyses. Despite our office being in the back of the building, we welcome stakeholder communication; we will happily talk your ear off about analytical methods, data, and regulatory frameworks.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our analyses are specifically focused on assessing the immediate impact of the proposed regulation on pest management costs and effectiveness. We use pesticide use reporting data to estimate future use based on historical trends and to predict how the loss of specific active ingredients might affect those use trends. This methodology was developed by Dr. Rachael Goodhue, the chair of Agricultural Resource Economics at UC Davis, OPCA, and a host of other collaborators and published in 2017 (https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/bk-2018-1283.ch020<\/a>).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past five years, OPCA has completed reports related to the withdrawal of chlorpyrifos, multiple iterations of the neonicotinoid mitigation regulations, and multiple iterations for both sets of 1,3-Dichloropropene (non-occupational bystander and occupational bystander) safety regulations. Public reports, publications, and white papers are available on our website https:\/\/www.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars\/opca\/publications.html<\/a>.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2019, OPCA has also started running several grant programs including Biologically Integrated Farming Systems<\/a>, Proactive Integrated Pest Management<\/a>, and support for IR-4<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In a world of rapidly changing pest threats, we are adapting too! Our \u201cProactive IPM Solutions<\/strong>\u201d program is now \u201cAdaptive IPM for Invasive Agricultural Pests\u201d<\/strong>, moving beyond “proactive” to a more responsive, dynamic, and inclusive approach. Our program focuses on developing and implementing adaptable IPM strategies that enable swift action against emerging invasive pests in California, whether they are newly introduced, resurging, or expanding their range. We are dedicated to refining existing methods and exploring new solutions, especially where pesticide resistance poses a challenge.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The California Department of Food and Agriculture\u2019s (CDFA\u2019s) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) was formed in 1992 following the formation of CalEPA\u2019s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Prior to this time CDFA was responsible for pesticide regulation in the state. OPCA’s primary role is to provide DPR with impact analyses of proposed pesticide … Continue reading What is the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis?<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-70","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","tag-opca","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-Our-Team-OPCA.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":313,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/how-opca-is-making-sense-of-californias-pesticide-use-trends\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":0},"title":"How OPCA Is Making Sense of California\u2019s Pesticide Use Trends","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"May 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"California leads the nation in\u00a0data transparency through\u00a0the\u00a0collection\u00a0and sharing\u00a0of pesticide use data,\u00a0providing\u00a0stakeholders, state agencies, and the public with valuable insights into\u00a0pest management throughout the state.\u00a0The Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) Database\u00a0maintained\u00a0by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)\u00a0serves as a resource for\u00a0the public to\u00a0track and understand how pesticide use has changed in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A rice field with groundwater irrigation in the agriculture region of Yuba County east of Marysville, California. Photo taken May 27, 2009. Dale Kolke \/ California Department of Water Resources","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DBK_Yuba_River-2695.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":150,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/cdfa-looks-to-get-ahead-of-invasive-agricultural-pests\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":1},"title":"CDFA Looks to Get Ahead of Invasive Agricultural Pests","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"California leads the nation in specialty crop production, growing more than 400 different crops across its diverse agricultural landscape. With such variety comes a complex web of pest management challenges that demand innovative, research-driven solutions. The OARS Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is continuously working to support pest management\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Tuta-absoluta-herbivory-test-on-commercial-tomatoes-vs-wild-South-American-tomato-species.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":297,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/an-alternative-to-dacthal\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":2},"title":"An Alternative to\u00a0Dacthal\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"May 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Kari Arnold, PhD, Western Region IR-4 Associate Director, Environmental Toxicology Dept., UC Davis\u00a0 On\u00a0October 22, 2024,\u00a0EPA\u00a0prohibited the use of\u00a0all products\u00a0containing\u00a0the herbicide\u00a0dimethyl\u00a0tetrachloroterephthalate\u00a0(Dacthal\u00a0or DCPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Although the reason for the cancellation was based in\u00a0science, the decision left many vegetable growers in California\u00a0at a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An Alternative to\u00a0Dacthal\u00a0","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dactal.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dactal.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dactal.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Dactal.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/a-note-from-our-director-august-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":3},"title":"A Note from Our Director | August 2025","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"August 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Stakeholders,\u00a0 I hope you enjoy this newsletter showcasing the accomplishments of our grantees and partners and giving you a peek at how we lead our programs to serve producers while contributing to the state\u2019s sustainability goals. Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to summarize the funding status of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"August 2025 OARS Director Report","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-image-3-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":171,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":4},"title":"Investing in Impact: How the OARS Team Helps Deliver Climate Solutions on California Dairy and Livestock Farms\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is dedicated to supporting California's dairy and livestock farmers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As proof of that, the CDFA\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) awarded nearly $25 million\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A technical assistance provider and rancher are reviewing data at a dairy farm","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AdobeStock_289583412_Preview-e1753726652620.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":143,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/california-conservation-planning-partnership-c2p2-advances-the-oars-technical-assistance-program-goals\/","url_meta":{"origin":70,"position":5},"title":"California Conservation Planning Partnership (C2P2) advances the OARS Technical Assistance Program Goals","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CDFA & OARS are committed to supporting farmers through the C2P2 MOA, uniting key partners for effective conservation practices.","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dr. Sara Garcia, OARS Technical Assistance Coordinator, represents CDFA\u2019s OARS team in a C2P2 Panel Discussion at the 2024 CARCD State Conference","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024-CARCD-State-Conference.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70\/revisions\/110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}