The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association submitted comments this week on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) request for input on critical uses of paraquat and currently available, effective alternatives. Paraquat is used as a desiccant in cotton and plays an important role in the production and harvest of cotton in California. The association’s comments focused on the need for a quality and effective defoliation that is absolutely critical to that quality grade and helps producers achieve maximum value. The Association highlighted the efficacy of paraquat over sodium chlorate for effective defoliations. The Association also commented paraquat’s use as an herbicide, especially in the winter when it is used as a broad-spectrum winter weed burndown and aids in growers being able to conduct no-till or minimum-till practices. This is critically important in areas like California where there is a significant effort to reduce passes and eliminate disturbance of the soil.  In addition, its use is important as it is a different active ingredient to glyphosate, and it is important to use in a rotation to minimize resistance. The use of paraquat is a key to increased sustainability, as the cotton industry works to minimize soil disturbance, minimize chemical resistance, and producing a quality crop. And according to some farm advisors, paraquat is the only effective tool for more difficult weeds such as fleabane.  All of this will be considered by CDPR as it works towards its re-evaluation of paraquat by 2029.