Crop dusting in Yolo County.

Towns

Woodland, Knights Landing, Zamora, Dunnigan, Esparto

Base

Live Oak, about 38 mi from Woodland, about 24 min by air

Crops

Rice, Orchards, Row crops

Call

(530) 695-2294

• Propanil north of Highway 16

  Yolo County's propanil conditions add to state rule 3 CCR 6462 north of State Highway 16. Only non-emulsifiable formulations may be used there. No aerial application within 4 miles of prunes. Aircraft may treat no more than 720 acres of rice in the county each day. The wind must be 2 to 7 mph and move away from sensitive crops. Anywhere in the county, propanil needs a 48-hour notice of intent.

• Cyhalofop and bispyribac-sodium: by air only in set areas

  Yolo County allows aerial cyhalofop only south of State Highway 16, and by fixed-wing aircraft only. The wind must be 3 to 7 mph at 4 feet. The release must be no higher than 10 feet, at 85°F or lower. Aerial bispyribac-sodium is allowed within the Conaway Ranch area. Elsewhere, the commissioner decides site by site. Bispyribac-sodium needs wind of 2 to 8 mph, daylight and a smoke column. Each aircraft must be certified before it applies either product.

• Phenoxy herbicides: 2-mile grape and pistachio buffer

  Yolo County's phenoxy condition covers 2,4-D, MCPA and dicamba from March 1 to November 15. It requires a 48-hour notice of intent. By air, it sets a 2-mile buffer from grapes and pistachios. Aerial phenoxy work stops on April 1. DPR's suggested conditions also prohibit aerial phenoxy work on rice from April 1 through October 15.

• Thiobencarb near the Sacramento River, and rice notices

  DPR's recommended rice permit conditions set two limits on aerial thiobencarb in Yolo County. Within a quarter mile of the Sacramento River, it needs direct supervision by the commissioner's staff. Within half a mile, it needs air moving steadily away from the river and wind of 7 mph or less. The Bolero 10G granule may not be used. For all four permitted rice herbicides, each field needs a 48-hour notice of intent. The applicator files a notice of application within 24 hours after the job.

• Schools and bees

  Yolo County's 2026 condition prohibits aerial application of California restricted materials within a quarter mile of a school. State rule 3 CCR 6691 also sets a quarter-mile school buffer for all aircraft work. It applies Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on days with classes. Before a bee-toxic product goes on a blooming crop, 3 CCR 6983 requires a hive check. The check finds beekeepers within 1 mile who asked for notice. They get at least 48 hours' notice, through BeeWhere.

Rules change each year. Your PCA and the county Ag Commissioner have the current conditions.

Sources: Yolo County 2024 rice pesticide permit conditions; Yolo County 2025 rice pesticide permit conditions (cover sheet); Yolo County Department of Agriculture, laws and regulations update (January 2026); DPR recommended permit conditions for rice pesticides (Compendium Vol. 3, Appendix D); 3 CCR 6462, propanil (state regulation); 3 CCR 6691, pesticide applications near schoolsites (state regulation); 3 CCR 6983, notice to beekeepers (state regulation); BeeWhere, California hive registration and bee checks.

Field notes

Read before you fly in Yolo

• Safety and the communitySpray drift: what causes it and how aerial applicators stop itSpray drift explained: droplet size, wind speed, temperature inversions, aircraft setup and the California rules that aerial applicators follow to prevent it.8 min read
• Cost and planningCrop dusting cost per acre: 2026 rates and what drives themCrop dusting cost per acre from university surveys: aerial spray, seed and fertilizer rates, season totals for rice, what moves the price, how to get a quote.8 min read
• Cost and planningHow do crop dusters know where to go? Field IDs, maps and GPSHow do crop dusters know where to go? A Sacramento Valley operator explains field IDs, the work order, GPS swath guidance and what growers send first.8 min read