Agricultural and Environmental Protection
Pesticide Use Enforcement:
California has one of the strongest programs of pesticide regulation in the country. Although pesticide laws and regulations are established at the state and federal levels, the County Agricultural Commissioner is responsible for their local implementation. The legal definition of a pesticide includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, plant growth regulators, and disinfectants… therefore, it includes the bleach you use in your laundry and Roundup® herbicide.
The Pesticide Use Enforcement program ensures that pesticides are used in an appropriate and responsible manner that protects the environment, the public and the employees of businesses that handle pesticides. County inspectors enforce State laws and regulations pertaining to the use of all pesticides in agriculture, structural, right-of-way, landscape maintenance, and home use settings. Staff conduct field inspections of applications and pesticide storage as well as the records of pesticide dealers and employers with employees handling pesticides for compliance. This wide variety of uses means that inspectors must work with many types of businesses and the general public to ensure safe pesticide applications.
The Agricultural Commissioner has the authority to levy administrative civil fines for pesticide-related violations. Fines can range from $50 to $5,000 per violation depending on the circumstances.
Inspectors issue permits for the use of pesticides that are restricted, visit farms to be sure that pesticides do not endanger workers, the public and nearby sensitive habitats and investigate complaints and reports of illnesses due to pesticides. The Pesticide Use Enforcement program also works with growers and their neighbors to mitigate problems that develop when agriculture and urban areas are in close proximity.
Pest Detection:
The Pest Detection program looks for exotic insect pests like Mediterranean fruit fly, Gypsy Moth, Japanese Beetle, and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, in over 1,300 traps placed in residential yards throughout the County to prevent infestations of these significant pests. If established, these pests would cause economic damage to both residential plantings and agricultural crops. Early detection allows eradication efforts to begin before pests multiply and spread, becoming economically and technically impossible to control. Traps are moved to new sites about every six weeks so that many areas of the County can be monitored for fruit flies and other pests during the detection season. Public participation is particularly critical to the success of this program, since staff relies on the goodwill of property owners who allow traps to be placed on their properties. Over 1,300 detection traps are deployed during the season and inspected on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Pest Exclusion:
The Pest Exclusion program is the first line of defense against the introduction of new insect pests and diseases, which have no natural predators here and might become established in Placer County, causing harm to humans, the environment and agriculture. Staff inspects incoming plant material and packages at the major terminals in the county, including UPS, FedEx, retail and wholesale plant nurseries, and received by producers and landscape contractors, for compliance with state and federal quarantines.
The Agricultural Commissioner has the authority to levy civil administrative penalties against shippers that fail to hold plant material for inspection or otherwise found to be violating State laws and regulations.
Nursery Inspection:
Both wholesale and retail plant nurseries are required to be licensed by the CA Department of Food and Agriculture. Wholesale, not retail, nurseries are inspected for compliance with applicable State laws and regulations pertaining to Nursery Stock for pest cleanliness, labeling, quality and variety certification standards. Nurseries receiving plant material from out of state or from a quarantine area within California are required to notify the County Agriculture Department and have the plants inspected prior to offering them for sale.
The Agricultural Commissioner has the authority to levy civil administrative penalties against nurseries found to be violating State laws and regulations.
Direct Marketing:
A certified farmers' market is a location approved by the County Agricultural Commissioner where certified farmers offer for sale agricultural products they grow themselves or products from another certified farmer. Inspectors from the Department of Agriculture inspect farms and other properties to verify what is raised or grown there. After satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the inspection, the farmer is certified for specific products. This certification allows the farmer to sell his produce at Certified Farmers' Markets.
The Agricultural Commissioner has the authority to levy civil administrative penalties against certified producers and farmer’s markets found to be violating State laws and regulations.
Organic Farm Production:
Farmers who want to claim they are selling organic produce must become certified as an organic producer. Certification is done through a private certifying agency such as, but not limited to, CA Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Certified Organic Producers are required to register with the Agricultural Commissioner annually and maintain specific records of their organic production which we audit. Displaying a sign that says “organic” without being a certified organic producer is a violation of both State and Federal law.
Pest Eradication:
In cooperation with the CA Department of Food and Agriculture, staff is involved in the survey for, mapping of, and eradication of specific pest species. Currently the program is focused on Spotted Knapweed, one of the highest rated invasive weed species, with herbicide spraying along I-80 corridor in the Cisco Grove area.
Biological Control:
In cooperation with the CA Department of Food and Agriculture, the department assists with the establishment and monitoring of various biological control agents such as Red-gum Lerp Psylid on eucalyptus trees.
Seed Inspection:
Staff inspects seed products for proper identification of seeds and sample for quality (noxious weed seed contamination). Seed may be ordered “off-sale” if found to be in violation of state laws or regulations.
Retail Egg Inspection:
Staff inspects fresh eggs offered to sale at the retail level for quality assurance. Eggs may be ordered “off-sale” if found to be in violation of state laws or regulations.
Crop Report:
The Department publishes the Annual County Crop Report as required by State law.
Consumer Protection
The purpose of the Weights and Measures program is to promote value comparison and fair competition in the marketplace.
Weighing Device Inspections:
Inspections include the testing, and “sealing,” of all weighing devices used in commercial transactions and includes all commercial scales such as, but not limited to, livestock, delicatessens, meat markets, produce, grain, gravel, asphalt, farmers’ market, vehicles, and moving vans for accuracy. Failure to have scales inspected and sealed prior to commercial use is a violation of State laws and regulations.
Measuring Device Inspections:
Inspections include the testing of all measuring devices used in commercial transactions and includes all commercial measuring devices such as, but not limited to, gas pumps, water vending machines, taximeters, water meters, cordage meters, fabric yardage meters, electric meters, privately-owned utility submeters (mobile home parks) and liquefied petroleum gas meters (LPG). Failure to have measuring devices inspected and sealed prior to commercial use is a violation of State laws and regulations.
Other jurisdictional responsibilities include the quality testing and advertisement compliance of petroleum products, package inspections to verify net content statements, including quantity inspection of products sold by volume or count and price verification (scanner) inspections. The program includes ongoing undercover sales and purchases to supplement other primary testing procedures.
Weighmaster Inspections:
Weighmasters are licensed people who will weigh a product for a commercial transaction and issue a certificate for the weight for use by a third party. Buyers and sellers both rely on the use of weighmaster certificates for honest transactions. Staff inspects the records weighmasters are required by law to maintain for compliance. Failure to maintain accurate records is a violation of State laws and regulations.
Wildlife Services:
The department’s Wildlife Services program is conducted in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program for the purpose of assisting Placer County citizens with wildlife-related issues and offering technical assistance for behavior modification, use of repellents, exclusion, and habitat modification. Wildlife Specialists primarily trap problem skunks, raccoons, and opossums in and around the urban areas as well as in rural areas. Staff also responds to depredation calls involving the loss of livestock and pets from predators like coyotes, mountain lions, and bears. They also assist with beavers that build dams that often result in the flooding and damage of property. Animals are euthanized and not relocated in compliance with State Fish and Game Codes.
Land Use Issues:
Review, and comment on, projects potentially affecting agriculture in the County like the Hwy. 65 bypass, Placer Vineyards, Regional University, rezoning proposals of agricultural land, and land use permitting issues related to agriculture. Assist to resolve issues related to compatible land uses involving production agriculture and the keeping of livestock and horses.
Agricultural Marketing Program:
Consistent with Placer County’s General Plan policies and goals related to agriculture, the Agricultural Marketing Program promotes Placer County agriculture through the development of ag. marketing products, media coverage of ag. stories and events, building community partnerships that highlight agriculture, increasing public awareness of, and support for, eating fresh, local in season produce.
Revised February 5, 2009