CAMARILLO : Rain Forecast Cancels Spraying
Fearing that rain showers predicted for tonight will wash away an application of the pesticide malathion, agricultural officials canceled Tuesday’s planned spraying over eastern Camarillo.
The decision to cancel what would have been the 10th spray mission in the continuing battle against the Mediterranean fruit fly came Tuesday afternoon when forecasters predicted there was a 50% or greater chance of rain within the next 24 hours, said Larry Hawkins, a spokesman for the state and federal Cooperative Medfly Project.
National Weather Service meteorologist Clay Morgan said showers should hit the county starting tonight and last through Thursday afternoon.
State regulations forbid the aerial application of pesticides whenever there is a 50% or greater chance of rain falling over a spray zone within the first 24 hours after an application or when there are winds in excess of 10 m.p.h.
Weather permitting, Hawkins said, a make-up application over the 16-square-mile eradication zone will be conducted at 9 p.m. next Tuesday.
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