Quick Take The Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commission is testing out a high-temperature steam alternative to chemical fumigants on five berry fields in Watsonville beginning in September as part of a three-month pilot program. Five berry growers in Watsonville will test out an alternative soil fumigant in their fields as part of a three-month pilot program led by the county’s agricultural commission. Sanford told Lookout that the $175,000 pilot program is funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. He added that this alternative farming method has been around for years and continues to be researched. The current equipment for this farming method is at a small scale and there’s work being done on technology to accommodate commercial farming, Sanford said.