TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Tracy Cleveland - Agricultural Commissioner
REPORT BY: Jaspreet Faller - Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Renewal of Revenue Agreements with California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA)
RECOMMENDATION
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Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures requests the approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign renewals for the following revenue agreements with California Department of Food and Agriculture:
1. Agreement No. 180051B for a maximum of $5,000 for the term July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for the reimbursement of activities related to the enforcement of the California Organic Foods act; and
2. Agreement No. 170908B for a maximum of $248,730 for the term January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 for the reimbursement of activities related to the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) detection program.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the requested action will renew the County’s revenue agreements with CDFA.
Renewal of Agreement No. 180051B reimburses the County for initial and amended organic registrations within Napa County; spot inspections at Certified Farmer’s Markets or vendors selling organic fruits and vegetables; pesticide and residue sampling; and investigation of complaints.
Renewal of Agreement No. 170908B reimburses the County for activities related to the EGVM detection program. Activities consist of placing and servicing traps for the detection of EGVM, which is considered hazardous to agriculture and the economy of California.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Agricultural Commissioner |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Mandatory |
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Discretionary Justification: |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Agreement No. 180051B has no future fiscal impact past the stated ending date of June 30, 2023. Agreement No. 170908B has no future fiscal impact past the stated ending date of December 31, 2023. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the agreements are not approved, the County will not be reimbursed for performing State mandated activities. This would include not being reimbursed for work already performed for EGVM. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
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Additional Information |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Agreement No. 180051B provides for reimbursement of costs associated with the enforcement of the California Organic Foods Act. Counties receive a portion of registration fees and perform inspections and sampling at the producer/handler and at the retail/farmer’s market levels. The County Agricultural Commissioner is also responsible for investigating any complaints received regarding compliance with the California Organic Foods Act. This agreement will reimburse the County a maximum of $5,000 for performing organic inspection activities.
Agreement No. 170908B provides for trapping of the EGVM which was first discovered in October 2009 in an eleven-acre Chardonnay vineyard in Oakville. This was the first time the invasive species was found in North America and the crop on the vineyard was a complete loss due to the damage caused by the pest. An aggressive detection trapping program was started in Napa County which revealed that the moth was widely distributed throughout the County. Over the next year EGVM infestations were found in several other counties, including Mendocino, Solano, Sonoma, Fresno, San Joaquin, Merced, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Nevada.
In 2010, over 100,000 EGVM were found in monitoring traps and by the end of 2013 the total number of EGVM trapped had decreased to 40. From 2014-2016 there were zero EGVM trapped and eradication in Napa County was declared in August, 2016. During the post eradication plan, which ended in 2019, the County trapped at a reduced density of 25 traps per square mile. For 2022, CDFA is reimbursing the County for trapping rural areas at 25 traps per square mile with a reduction in low-risk areas.