Author: leiwe

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The Economic Benefits of Pesticides to Farmers & Society

Swanson K, July 21, 2025, The Economic Benefits of Pesticides to Farmers & Society, https://ncga.com/stay-informed/media/the-corn-economy/article/2025/05/the-economic-benefits-of-pesticides-to-farmers-and-society

 

The article says how pesticides are very important economically for agriculture by allowing for much more crop yields, keeping food cheaper, and to allow for farmers to make profits from crops. Additionally, the EPA have reviewed and approved that pest management is usually cost effective and the most efficient way to control weeds and pest interference. The article also states that today, farmers use lower amounts of pest management methods while getting higher yields than in the past, and it says that without them, costs would skyrocket and sustainability would be worse.

 

This article is related to APES because it talks about the tradeoff and the pros and the cons of using pest management methods, but more specifically pesticides. It connects agriculture to costs to pest management to policies. These are all key ideas that are discussed in APES in order to talk about envirnmental effects of pest management.

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‘Silent epidemic of chemical pollution’ demands radical regulatory redo, say scientists

 Gaworecki M,2025, December 3, ‘Silent epidemic of chemical pollution’ demands radical regulatory redo, say scientists, https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/silent-epidemic-of-chemical-pollution-demands-radical-regulatory-redo-say-scientists/

 

This article is about a team of scientists/researchers who say that global chemical regulations are not doing enough to protect humans health and to prevent envirnmental degradation. The article says that pesticides are usually tested only for certain ingrediants, however sometimes they are not tested for petrolium and metal residue, which can be super harmful. This is what the article says is contributing to disease and less biodiversity. The article urges for more and stricter regulations.

 

This is related to APES because human impacts on the envirnment and human health are both tightly related and things weve studied in our APES class. The desire for better regulations connects to the topic of policy making within APES aswell, all in favor to protect ecosystem.

 

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Scientists find hidden brain damage from a common pesticide

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, 2025, November 7, Scientists find hidden brain damage from a common pesticide, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251107010322.htm

 

This article talks about a study from 2025 at colombia university. This study found that prenatal exposure to pesticides is associated with lasting brain damage and abnormalities and worsened motor skills in children and young adults. Additionally, despite a ban on residential use of the specific pesticide linked with the majority of the damage, agricultural settings still use it. This means that even though it has had less usage in more populated areas, there is still great threat to pregnant woman and babies in the womb, so there ultimately is still the need for monitoring of the chemical.

 

This article and discovery is connected to APES because it shows how humans usage of pesticides can impact environmental health and populations. It demostrates the indirect accidents and outcomes from chemicals and pest management, which is similar to what we learn about in class regarding the environmental impacts of chemicals, which is similar to the soil lab and tests we did to test for soil quality, whcih can also be degraded from improper pest management use.

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The Perfect Storm for Public Health Pests: NPMA Highlights Incoming Threats

NPMA, 2025, August 20, The Perfect Storm for Public Health Pests: NPMA Highlights Incoming Threats, https://www.pestworld.org/multimedia-center/press-releases/the-perfect-storm-for-public-health-pests-npma-highlights-incoming-threats/

 

This article discusses the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), which is warning about how extreme weather is allowing for longer and more intense pest seasons across US cities. This means that there is more risks from pests like mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, cockroaches, etc. All of which can spread very dangerous viruses and diseases. The article mentions a few cities at the most risk, such as Baltimore, New Orleans, Charlotte, New York, and more. The NPMA recommends that by removing standing water sources, sealing cracks, and using insect repellent, people can limit pest contact and harm.

 

This article is connected to APES because it talks about how pests and climate/weather are directly connected to one another. This connects dots between the article and our APES class because we learned about both human populations and climate change, which both influence how many pests there are and how easily a pests disease can travel. This overall demonstrates the links between ecosystems and pest management.

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Increasing the use of biological pesticides in integrated pest management programs

Pamela G. Marrone, (2025, October 22), Increasing the use of biological pesticides in integrated pest management programs, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/insect-science/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1552361/full

 

This article/research talks about integrated pest management (IPM), which is a way to control pests by using multiple different methods. Some of these methods are biological control, crop diversity, careful monitoring, and chemical pesticides.The article argues that IPM works best when it takes place from an evolutionary perspective. This means that it would consider how pests can adapt and develop resistance to pest management methods overtime. Too much pesticide use allows for the pest to adapt strong natural selection, eventually making them less effective and more harmful for the environment. By using many perspective to combat the pesticide, IPM creates effective pest management and protects biodiversity and the environment.

 

This directly relates to our APES class and, more specifically, our unit on agriculture and sustainable agriculture. Within this unit, we learned in depth about how pesticides and chemical treatments to increase crop yield and kill pests are significant threats to soil and plant health. This is exactly what the main topic of the article, integrated pest management, aims to avoid and solve.

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‘Gross’ moth invasion wreaks havoc on forests

  1. Dwyer, G. (2025, January 27). ‘Gross’ moth invasion wreaks havoc on forests — and property values: ‘A very bad effect’. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://nypost.com/2025/01/27/science/gross-moth-invasion-wreaks-havoc-on-forests-and-property-values-a-very-bad-effect/

 

The article talks about how the Spongy Moth infestations in all of california has increased. The Spongy Moth usually lives in warmer areas and woods/forest landscapes. Recently, the moth has been affecting oak forest areas in calabasis. To respond to the issue, state officials/authorities have started safety measures for the ecosystems, like tree wrapping to trap larvae, and they’ve been using pesticides as well. Ideally, the article says the moth will be fully gone from the area in 2026.

 

This article is correlated to environmental science because it mentions ecosystem disturbances and the dynamics of invasive pests and the need/rush to manage them. The article mentions how spongy moths harm the trees and the forrest, which is especially connected to the topic and need of pest management within environmental science.

 

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A new invader threatens California water supplies

  1. Becker, R. (2025, July 15). A new invader threatens California water supplies. Can the state stop its spread? CalMatters. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2025/07/golden-mussel-california-water-supplies-spread-inspections/

 

In the article, the author talks about the discover of a new invasive species called the golden mussel. The muscle was found in the San Joaquin River Delta in Sacramento. Golden Mussels colonize rapidly within waterways, and in this case have been clogging water infrastructure  and harming ecosystems and water systems. They were first detected in 2024 which has caused response efforts and an increase in awareness. Right now strategies to contain and prevent further damage is being persued.

 

This article is related to APES and envirnmental science because it focuses on the ecosystem disruption that the golden mussel has caused. This invasice pest, if not contained will damage other species, the ecosystem, and waterways further, which are all ideas that are important in the class and field of environmental science.

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Northern California county warns of ‘thick, poisonous smoke,’ declares emergency

  1. Wu, J. (2025, July 15). Northern California county warns of ‘thick, poisonous smoke,’ declares emergency. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/norcal-county-warns-poisonous-smoke-declares-20769947.php

 

The article talks about how in july, Siskiyou county north of us declared a state of emergency due to illigal cannabis growers igniting sawdust like materials that had insecticides and herbicides inside. This act produced dense and poisonous smoke, which endangered public health, public waterwyas, the envirnment, and put first responders in danger. Gavin Newsom was then urgered to officially recognize the crisis. Illegal operations like this are huge risks to the envirnment due to their unlicsenced/unofficial use of materials, like pesticides.

 

This related to APES and issues withi environmental science, highlighting how significantly important it is to operate with pesticides lawfully, because otherwise there is significant risks to air, water, human health, and ecosystems. I am alarmed that such dangerous and illegal practices/opertations like the cannabis farm in this article are around, and efforts to stop them should be persued more.

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Rodenticides: Further restrictions in 2025

  1. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2025, July 14). Rodenticides: Further restrictions in 2025. UC ANR Pests in the Urban Landscape Blog. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://ucanr.edu/blog/pests-urban-landscape/article/rodenticides-further-restrictions-2025

 

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources created this article talking about new restrictions in California on the use of rodenticides for residential areas. Now the sale and use of many common pesticides like brodificoum and warfarin are able to be used by licsenced professionals. Now only some ingredients are able to be used by residents. The states goal is to reduce wildlife exposure and unintentional poisoning of animals with pesticides.

 

This is related to APES because of the wildlife/ecological risks. Getting rid of or lessening these harmful rodenticides helps protect diversity among species and habitats. I think it is good that California is being precautious and taking science backed approaches.

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Advancing safe, effective, and sustainable pest management in California

  1. California Department of Pesticide Regulation. (2025, July 2). Advancing safe, effective, and sustainable pest management in California: A 2025 mid‑year progress update from DPR. CDPR Blog. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/2025/07/02/advancing-safe-effective-and-sustainable-pest-management-in-california-a-2025-mid-year-progress-update-from-dpr/

 

The article talks about department of pesticide regulations year 2025 update which talks about progress in getting sustainable pest managment practices across the state. The article talks about new ideas and methods of pest management, like the SprayDays California public notification system, which is a system that allows the public to access real time infromation about pesticide news. The article also talks about new envirnmental regulations like more enforcement of pesticide residue testing and improvements on pesticide use reporting. Also, the article mentions how important it is to integrate human and environmental safety meausres into pest management methods. In the article, the DPR also launched the Envirnmental Justice Advisory Commitee to ensure equallity in the reguations and distribution of pesticide.

 

This article is related to APES because it discusses sustainable pest management strategies that better the public health and the envirnment. By focusing on safety within the pesticides, the realtime notification method, and the distribution of equal access to pest control methods, the article highlights the importance of pest management as a whole, specifically in california. I think the article showcases how california is improving and taking good steps toward the challenge of pest control.