The trouble is, it destroys the ozone layer, as well.
"The government is phasing out the use of methyl bromide because it's an ozone-depleting chemical," says Husein Ajwa, a UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences soil specialist. Ajwa recently won the 2009 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his work in developing Methyl bromide alternatives. Ajwa and his team have conducted more than 100 trials over 12 years just to get down to four promising alternative fumigants.
"Here we have a few tests under way," Ajwa says, walking into a plot of ripe berries. "We're testing not just alternative fumigants, but also alternative application methods, like shank applications and drip fumigation."
And impermeable plastic tarps.
"Regulations are based on emission plus toxicity," Ajwa explains. "We're testing plastic tarps imported from Italy that have been known to reduce emissions three to four times. It's very promising. Growers could use less fumigant, and less would escape into the environment."
Like other Cooperative Extension specialists, Ajwa spends a lot of time sharing research results with growers.
"I love that part of the job," Ajwa says. "Growers appreciate whatever we can share. Farming is a struggle on a good day."
The afternoon sun is kind at this center, where lush, green farmland stretches out like a carpet to the Gabilan mountains. In Irvine, housing has gobbled up land right to the borders of the South Coast station.
Not here; not now.
"Monterey County has the toughest land use policies in the county," Cooperative Extension weed specialist Steven Fennimore says. "That's why you still see so much farming."
Read more: