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By Christine Souza, California Farm Bureau Federation
Guided by a plan that prioritizes sustainable pest management and a goal to eliminate high-risk pesticides by 2050, officials from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation last week discussed agency priorities now being supported by a $34 million revenue boost from raising the mill assessment on pesticide sales.
Annual increases in the mill assessment—a fee that farmers pay when they purchase pesticides—went into effect in July after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2113, which authorized tiered assessment increases.
From July 1 to June 30, 2025, the rate increased from 21 mills, or 2.1 cents per dollar of sales, to 24.5 mills, or 2.45 cents per dollar of sales. The fee increases again in 2025 and 2026 and jumps to 30 mills, or 3 cents per dollar of sales, July 1, 2027.
DPR Director Julie Henderson said the mill assessment increase will support agency priorities and add 117 new positions. The department is working on streamlining processes, timely processing of pesticide product registration, reviews and evaluations, and to expand adoption of Sustainable Pest Management.
Henderson outlined the agency’s priorities last week at a regulatory conference held in Sacramento by the Western Plant Health Association, which represents crop protection interests, including product manufacturers and distributors, and agricultural retailers.
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