DATE: January 28, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Melissa Cregan, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Retroactive Amendment to Revenue Agreement for Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive First Amendment to the Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Agreement No. 24-0236-028-SF with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, effective upon execution with no change to the term of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, and increasing the maximum by $40,000 to a total of $125,000.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended action, which will increase the maximum amount of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Agreement (Agreement) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) from $85,000 to $125,000, which will support ongoing program operations. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board does not approve the recommended action, the Department will not receive additional funding from the CDFA for Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) regulatory enforcement activities.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Amendment is retroactive to October 1, 2024, because CDFA secured additional funds for the program after the original agreement was finalized in mid-September 2024. An amended workplan had to be prepared for the additional funding and sent to CDFA for review before the recommended Amendment could be brought before your Board for approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in NCC associated with the recommended action. Depending on the rate at which the additional funds are utilized, a reduction in NCC is projected for FY 2024-25. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department of Agriculture’s Org 4010 FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget to account for any unspent funds from the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The ACP is one of the most serious pests of citrus known in the world. This insect pest is a vector for the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) that causes the citrus disease known as huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. Citrus trees infected with HLB will die and there is currently no treatment for the disease. In Florida, HLB has spread to all 32 citrus growing counties across the state. As a result, Florida citrus production has dropped dramatically from what it was 20 years ago, resulting in the closure of citrus packing houses and the loss of thousands of jobs. The Florida Department of Citrus recently reported that citrus production in Florida could drop over 80% by 2026.
The first detection of ACP in California occurred in 2008 near San Diego along the international border with Mexico. Despite eradication efforts, ACP quickly spread through Southern California counties. In 2012, HLB was first confirmed to have infected a lemon tree in the Hacienda Heights area of Los Angeles County. Since then, HLB infected host plants, including citrus, and/or ACP found to be positive with the CLas bacterium, have been detected in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties.
The first detection of ACP in Fresno County occurred in 2011. There have been multiple detections of ACP in Fresno County since 2011, with two detections in 2023. CDFA efforts resulted in eradication of all ACP infestations within Fresno County. Preventing ACP from entering Fresno County is critical to averting an ACP infestation and preclude HLB from infecting citrus trees in Fresno County.
Statewide quarantines prevent the spread of ACP. The quarantines require all citrus growers, harvesters, transporters, and packers to be under a compliance agreement with the CDFA to move bulk harvested citrus either within or out of a quarantine area. Citrus production counties throughout California, under agreement with the CDFA, conduct regulatory activities to enforce these quarantines and provisions of the compliance agreements.
On April 9, 2024, your Board authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures (Ag Commissioner) to approve and execute specific revenue agreements with the CDFA for FY 2024-25, and to amend the same agreements for any potential increase or decrease of an amount not exceeding the greater of 15% of the maximum, or $10,000.
On August 5, 2024, the Ag Commissioner executed Agreement No. 24-0236-028-SF with the CDFA.
The funding in the original Agreement was $85,000, and an additional $40,000 in funds was made available by the CDFA to the Department to enforce the quarantines, which includes the issuance of, and enforcement of provisions contained within, compliance agreements, predominantly focusing on inspecting vehicles transporting citrus to ensure the shipment is completely enclosed. The recommended Amendment is before your Board for consideration because the increase to the Agreement would be greater than $10,000 or 15% of the original Agreement amount and exceeds the delegated authority of the Ag Commissioner.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #35, April 9, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement No. 24-0236-028-SF with CDFA
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals