The Agricultural Commissioner is dedicated to worker health and safety, the protection of environmental resources, and the promotion of the agricultural sector of Monterey County.

Industrial Hemp in Monterey County

The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act (Senate Bill 566, Chapter 398, Statutes of 2013) was signed into law to authorize the commercial production of industrial hemp in California.  The Act became effective on January 1, 2017, due to a provision in the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64, November 2016).

As directed by this Act, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is developing a program to administer this new law.  There will be regulatory requirements to grow hemp, including registration with the Agricultural Commissioner.  Until CDFA completes the implementation of the law, there can be no planting of industrial hemp anywhere in the state, except for research.

Cultivation of industrial hemp is allowed for the purposes of agricultural or academic research if such research is performed in conjunction with a qualified educational institution.  Research is exempt from many of the regulatory requirements that will apply to commercial hemp cultivation.  Researchers intending to operate in Monterey County should contact the Agricultural Commissioner.  Any operations found to be outside of the law will be subject to enforcement.  Any landowners who are approached by hemp growers seeking to lease ground should contact the Agricultural Commissioner.

Industrial hemp has traditionally been grown for oilseed or fiber, but there are initiatives to expand the definition of hemp to allow for the production of other commodities.  This is a developing area and is subject to change at any time.  More information can be found at the California Industrial Hemp Program.

Additional Resources:

• Agricultural Commissioner Cannabis Grower Outreach Session Information
• Monterey County Resource Management Agency Cannabis Permitting Information
  

Events

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Ag Tech Summit - Check back for more information!

 USDA APHIS-WS IWDM Program & Agreement Renewal

Final EIR now available
(see appendices below)

Draft EIR Available for Review - USDA APHIS-WS IWDM Program & Agreement Renewal

The public review period for this document begins on August 17, 2017, and ends on October 3, 2017.  This review period is established for the purpose of receiving written comments on the accuracy and adequacy of the Draft EIR together with other information relative to the environmental effects of the project.  You may click on sections of the document shown below.

• DEIR Notice of Availability
• Monterey USDA DEIR (August 2017)
• DEIR Appendix A - NOP-IS & Comments
• DEIR Appendix B - Background
• DEIR Appendix C - Biological Resources

2017 Ranch Map Atlas Product Updates

The 2017 Ranch Map paper atlases are available at the Agricultural Commissioner’s office in Salinas.

• 89 Page (with TRS grid) - $35.00 + tax
• 34 Page (with TRS grid) - $25.00 + tax
• 34 Page (without TRS grid) - $25.00 + tax

• The Agricultural Commissioner's website Ranch Map page.
  Access the atlas map pages and indexes online.
• Ranch Map Atlas web-CD ($10 + tax).
• Ranch Map Wall Map web-CD ($10 + tax).
These web-CDs are available in our Salinas office.  By using either of these resources you can access the maps directly from an interactive CD.
• The Agricultural Commissioner's website Map Gallery page.
  

  This gallery has several online viewers containing the new 2017 ranch map data.

Cannabis Grower Outreach Session Information

Information from the August 24, 2017, session is available by clicking on Cannabis.

A Business of Details - Exporting a California Specialty Crop

Companies that are new to exporting and companies that have previously considered and abandoned an exporting plan can use A Business of Details to get up to speed on terminology, processes, common pitfalls and strategies for success. This training video follows a shipment of Romaine Lettuce from a packing facility in Salinas, CA to its destination in Taiwan.

Asian Citrus Psyllid Detected in Monterey County

UPDATE (06/2017)

Monterey County had its first detection of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) on June 7, 2016, in a residential area of Northeast Salinas.  This resulted in voluntary treatment of hosts within 400 meters of the find, and the establishment of a five-mile quarantine area.  Any find triggers a delimitation trapping survey, treatments within 400 meters of the find, and possibly an expansion of the quarantine area.

A second find of a single psyllid was confirmed in November 2016 from a trap in the Toro Park area.  This resulted in the expansion of the quarantine area and a new delimitation survey.  The quarantine expansion area has few hosts and no commercial citrus or nurseries.

A third find of a single psyllid was confirmed in June 2017 from a trap in Spreckels.  This again resulted in an expansion of the quarantine area.

 Asian citrus psyllid is a threat to California's citrus industry.  It transmits a disease called Citrus Greening or Huanglongbing (HLB) that is fatal to citrus trees.  HLB causes asymmetrical yellowing and splotching of leaves.  Affected trees produce bitter, inedible, misshapen fruit and eventually die.  The ACP is a small insect about the size of an aphid.  It feeds on citrus stems and leaves, especially tender new growth.

HLB disease has been found in Southern California.  It can be spread through the movement of citrus trees, fruit or infected budwood.  Homeowners should plant only certified disease-free citrus from a reputable nursery and not move plant material around.  Inspect your citrus often and report any suspicious insects or symptoms to the Agricultural Commissioner or call the CDFA hotline at (800) 491-1899.

A map of the ACP quarantine area is available here: Map

For more information see: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/PDEP/target_pest_disease_profiles/ACP_PestProfile.html. 

For Your Information

OTHER NEWS

• USDA Secretary Vilsack explains the value of rural America and our ag communities.
  

• Memorandum on Pesticides, Schools. The Agricultural Commissioner releases a memorandum on issues related to pesticide use near schools.
  

• El Nino Preparedness.  Ready or not, here comes the weather!  Check out this link to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County’s Hillslope Farming Runoff Management Practices Guide for some help with getting ready.  For more information or to contact the RCD, visit www.rcdmonterey.org.  

Accelerated erosion is a violation of Monterey County Code.
Keep your valuable soil and be a good neighbor – Be Prepared!

Issues Identified with CEHTP's April 2014 Report

Analysis of state report that raises ongoing concerns about agricultural pesticide use near Monterey County schools identifies flaws and limitations of the report. Read the ag commissioner's analysis here: High Resolution (60 MB) or Low Resolution (4 MB)