Pesticide Use Reporting
California’s pesticide use reporting (PUR) is recognized as the most comprehensive in the world. Since 1990, California has required detailed reporting for nearly all types of agricultural pesticide uses and many non-agricultural pesticide uses, resulting in valuable data that shows how pesticides are used in the State. It should be noted that the PUR database defines agricultural uses and non-agricultural uses slightly differently from how the Food and Agricultural Code defines these terms.
In the PUR database, agricultural pesticide uses are applications for the production of an agricultural commodity and non-agricultural pesticide uses are all other uses that are legally required to be reported, such as for rights-of-way, landscape maintenance, golf courses, parks, recreation areas, cemeteries, structural pest control, and vector control.
Our pesticide use report data is used by a wide range of stakeholders— including academic and government scientists, growers, registrants, non-profits, policy makers, legal firms, journalists, and the general public— to assess risk, food quality, worker exposure, endangered species protection, water and air quality, pest management, and land-use trends.
We use PUR data to inform our pesticide use mitigation and regulatory efforts that protect human health and the environment.
PUR data can be viewed by:
- Reviewing annual pesticide use reports that summarize use data, highlights, and trends by years,
- Using the California Pesticide Information Portal (CalPIP) that allows users to generate customized data views drawing pesticide use information from several DPR databases, and
- Downloading archived text data files that were used to create the annual reports.
Annual Pesticide Use Report Summaries (From 2017 to Present)
We summarize the State’s pesticide use data in an annual report. The annual reports include numerous analyses of use trends by chemical or commodity, top five and top 100 lists, trends of pesticides of regulatory concern, and various County Summary Reports. Review the pesticide use annual report definitions and references guide to learn more about understanding and interpreting the data in annual reports.
Annual Pesticide Use Report Summaries (From 1989 to 2016)
To access PDF reports from 1989 through 2016, please use the DPR’s Public Records Request Portal.
CalPIP Data
The California Pesticide Information Portal (CalPIP) allows users to perform custom searches from either the Pesticide Use Report (PUR) data, the Groundwater Protection Area data, or the Endangered Species (PRESCRIBE) data. CalPIP offers visitors detailed insights into pesticide use in California.
PUR Data Files Used to Create the Annual Reports
You can access the archived raw data files used to create each year’s annual report. These data files are data snapshots in time used to develop the report and do not reflect data updates made after the file creation date. These historical files, dating back to 1970, are in zip file format (1970-1973 are PDFs of original microfiche records).
For more information, contact us at: PUR.inquiry@cdpr.ca.gov
Pesticide Use Reporting Forms and Form Submission Process
PUR data is collected at the county level. Contact your County Agricultural Commissioner’s office for more information about submitting PUR forms. Most PUR forms are submitted electronically through electronic pesticide use reporting accounts that are available through CalAgPermits. However, hard copies of PUR forms are available to download, fill out, print, and send to the county where the application took place.
PUR Laws and Regulations
In order to review the legal authorities relating to California’s PUR (excluding use at schools and child care centers), use the following links:
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PUR Data on Pesticide Use at Schoolsites
We collect PUR data for public K-12 schools and licensed childcare centers under a distinct process as mandated by the Healthy Schools Act. For more information on pesticide use reporting and pesticide use data for schools and child care centers, learn about the Healthy Schools Act.
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Still have a Question or Need More Information?
Please contact us with questions or visit the Contact Us page on our website to connect with other programs at DPR.
Email: PUR.inquiry@cdpr.ca.gov