The County Agricultural Commissioner is charged with enforcing provisions of the California Food and Agricultural Code which promotes and protects the production, sale and distribution of food, feed and horticultural crops, while assuring that a clean environment is conserved, workers’ health and safety is assured, and a safe, economical and abundant food supply is preserved.

The Agricultural Commissioner also administers the Pest Detection Program, which is responsible for the early detection of various insect pests which are not presently established within the State of California or the County of Santa Cruz but which are known to be a threat to agriculture, forest industries, and the environment. The program is 100% funded through a contractual agreement with the State Department of Food and Agriculture.

The Agricultural Commissioner also serves as Sealer of Weights and Measures which enforces Division 5, Sections 12001 through 13741 of the California Business and Professions Code which promotes equity in the marketplace through tests, inspections and other regulatory activities. Transactions where weight, measure or count are the basis of sale or purchase are protected from fraud, deception, and unfair business practices. The Weights and Measures Division has four major areas of enforcement: Quantity Control, Device Inspection, Petroleum Enforcement, and Weighmaster Enforcement.

The Agricultural Commissioner also administers Mosquito and Vector Control which is charged with the management of mosquito and other nuisance, venomous or disease-carrying animal populations by means of integrated programs designed to benefit or have minimal adverse effects on people, wildlife, and the environment.

CURRENT PEST ISSUES:

CDFA Announces Public Meetings in Salinas and Santa Cruz for Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication Program:
LBAMmeetings.pdf

California Department of Food and Agriculture Information on Light Brown Apple Moth: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/lbam/lbam_main.html

Distinguishing between Light Brown Apple Moth and California Oak Moth:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/June/07/style/stories/02style.htm

Light Brown Apple Moth and other related moths:
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/1598/38829.ppt

Integrated Pest Management Program for Light Brown Apple Moth:
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/1598/37434.pdf

California Oak Moth:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7422.html

CURRENT PESTICIDE ISSUES:

Pesticides and VOC’s:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/vocproj/voc_symposium.htm

Current DPR Proposed Regulation Packages:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/legbills/rulepkgs.htm#vocinfo

Fumigants (includes Methyl Bromide):
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dprdocs/methbrom/mb_main.htm

OTHER USEFUL LINKS:

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA): http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/

California Department of Pesticide Regulations:
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/

Division of Measurement Standards:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/DMS/

University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Cruz County: http://cesantacruz.ucdavis.edu/

University of California Integrated Pest Management Program:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/

Sudden Oak Death: http://nature.berkeley.edu/comtf/

Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdcp/

National Institute of Standards and Technology:
http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/owmhome.cfm

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