DATE: August 23, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Les Wright, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Revenue Agreement for the Khapra Beetle Detection Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue Agreement with the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association for the Khapra Beetle Detection Program effective July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 ($4,821).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the County to enter into an Agreement with the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association to reimburse the Department’s costs for Khapra beetle detection activities performed in Fresno County.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
No action or disapproval would mean that the Department would not receive reimbursement from the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) to partially offset the costs incurred in carrying out this program.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
This revenue Agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2016. The Department received the Agreement from the CACASA on June 22, 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended action. The Department estimates total cost to complete this program at $6,995. Fresno County will receive approximately $4,821 in revenue from the CACASA to fund this mandated program. The difference ($2,174) will be funded with Unclaimed Gas Tax (UGT) revenues received from the State. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for the Department of Agriculture Org. 40101001.
DISCUSSION:
The Khapra beetle is one of the world’s most destructive pests of grain products, seeds, and other stored food products. Populations of this pest can build rapidly in a short time under hot, dry conditions. It is a voracious feeder of grain products, can tolerate colder climates and is capable of hiding in cracks and surviving for up to six years. Khapra beetle will feed on most any dried plant matter but prefers grain and cereal products. Other hosts include dry beans, ground corn, dry pet food, and a variety dried fruits and nutmeat.
Khapra beetle has been found and eradicated from California several times. In 1953, an extensive infestation was found in California, which may have been present since 1946. Subsequent detection and delimiting surveys revealed its presence in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as in Mexico in the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Jalisco and Sonora. The infestation was finally eradicated in 1966. Other infestations were discovered in isolated areas of California, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas in 1980. These were eradicated by 1983.
Khapra beetle is believed to be native to India. It has been reported that it was distributed in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Australia and Madagascar, and has become established in most of those countries. Under this program, Khapra beetle traps will be placed and monitored in high hazard facilities receiving host products from foreign countries.
In the past, Khapra beetle trapping had been incorporated into the general pest detection trapping Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). In 2012 the funding for Khapra beetle trapping was eliminated from the Agreement due to a reduction in funding for the statewide program by the CDFA. Recognizing a need to reestablish this important trapping program, CACASA secured Farm Bill funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for FY 2016-17.
The revenue from the Khapra Beetle Detection Program Agreement is based on actual cost for salaries and benefits and services and supplies. Overhead is not included in the reimbursable expenses for this agreement. UGT revenues will be used to offset the difference in the actual cost and the reimbursable rate.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander