Board adopts 2025 Integrated Pest Management report, approves 2026 allowed-products list

The Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the 2025 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) annual report, approved the recommended 2026 allowed-products list and passed a resolution of commendation on Feb. 24.

Jim Cieka, deputy director for Parks Administration, introduced the presentation and said the county's IPM program covers 148 sites including parks, libraries and median strips and prioritizes nonchemical and least-toxic pest management. Kat Knecht, senior program coordinator, noted the program reported 10,785 hours of nonchemical IPM work in 2025 — the equivalent of roughly five full-time employees — and that 85% of the conventional pesticide use reported was a single application of a product called Reliant to help prevent sudden oak death on select heritage trees. The program also reported that the majority of organic use was a repellent called Ascentria and that there were zero IPM ordinance violations by staff, contractors or volunteers in 2025.

Knecht said the county's IPM ordinance is Ordinance No. 3598 and that the recommended change to the allowed-products list is a recategorization tied to an EPA number update for "pure spray green horticultural oil." The board moved and approved a three-part motion to accept the report, approve a resolution of commendation and adopt the 2026 allowed-products list; Supervisor Sackett moved and Supervisor Milton Peters seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The presenters announced a posthumous IPM Achievement Award for Dr. Steven Swain, a UC Cooperative Extension horticultural advisor and long-time IPM commissioner. The award ceremony will take place in April when commissioners can gather in person.