Angel Garcia of Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) addresses the crowd in Shafter during a launch event for SprayDays California on Monday, March 24, 2025. Photo via CPR

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has introduced SprayDays California, a system designed to provide timely, transparent notifications about applications of restricted pesticides, state officials said Monday.

It’s information farmworker communities have demanded the right to know for decades to take safety precautions against exposure due to drift in the fields, according to advocacy group Californians for Pesticide Reform.

The group hosted an event in the Kern County community of Shafter Monday to mark the launch of SprayDays California.

Restricted material pesticides are subject to California’s strictest regulations, including on where and how they can be used and who can use them.

DPR Director Karen Morrison said SprayDays California displays details such as pesticide product names, active ingredients, application methods, treated acreage and Environmental Protection Agency registration numbers.

“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,” Morrison said in a news release. “SprayDays California was developed through extensive public engagement to improve access to information and enhance understanding of California’s strong pesticide regulatory framework.”

Californians for Pesticide Reform Co-Director Angel Garcia said this system is the first of its kind in use anywhere.

“Since California uses more pesticides than any other state, including more than 130 pesticides that are not approved in the European Union, farmworker communities have demanded a ‘heads up’ in order to take measures to reduce the risk of exposure to our loved ones,” Garcia said. “We need far better protections from the State, but this is a giant step forward toward transparency about toxic pesticide use.”

The SprayDays webpage offers online information and notifications via email and text messages. It provides 48-hour advance notices for soil fumigants and 24-hour notices for other restricted pesticides used on farms. 

Users can search for scheduled applications using an interactive map or enter a California postal address to view planned applications within a one-square-mile radius. Opt-in notifications are available via email or text.

Information remains available for four days following the scheduled application date, allowing flexibility for delays due to weather or pest conditions. SprayDays also serves as an educational resource on pesticide safety and California’s regulatory framework, officials say.