With organic fields next door, conventional farms increase pesticide use, research shows

Advocates of organic farming have long portrayed it as kinder to people and the planet. But a new study in a California county found a surprising effect as their acreage grew: Nearby conventional farms applied more pesticides, likely keeping control of a greater insect threat to their crops, the researchers said. Ashley Larsen, lead author … Read more

Why the spread of organic farms could lead growers to use more pesticides, not less

Robert Dedlow, owner of Kentor Canyon Farms in Fillmore, cuts organic thyme during a tour of his farm in 2021. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) To help California combat climate change, air quality regulators would like to see 20% of the state’s farmland go organic by 2045. This means that approximately 65,000 hectares … Read more