To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0186-000-SA, Organic Inspections Contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the Amount of $6,010
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the cooperative agreement No. 25-0186-000-SA, organic inspections with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in the amount of $6,010 for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026; and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and direct the Clerk of the Board to return all signed copies to the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office receives annual subventions from the CDFA to help offset the local cost of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. Pursuant to the California Food and Agriculture Code, Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0186-000-SA provides funds to Humboldt County for the local enforcement of state organic program requirements associated with the California Organic Food and Farming Act. The county will receive payments as appropriate for activities related to organic producer registrations, renewals, amendments, inspections, pesticide residue monitoring and complaint investigations. According to the 2022-23 California Agricultural Organics Report, gross sales by Humboldt County organic producers amounted to $63,590,109.
Per the terms of the agreement, Humboldt County staff will conduct spot inspections of organic program registrants at their production sites and at farmers’ markets to verify compliance with organic program requirements. County staff are also required to attend CDFA state organic program trainings and National Organic Program online trainings.
The waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance is requested because the State of
California will not modify its cooperative agreements to accommodate local ordinances. This agreement comes before the Board after the start of the term of the contract due to late receipt from CDFA.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
CDFA - Agricultural Commissioner (1100-261)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100,261) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$6,010 |
$6,010 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$6,010 |
$6,010 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$6,010 |
$6,010 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$6,010 |
$6,010 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0186-000-SA provides $6,010 for the period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Payments are made in arrears in two block payments for work completed from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, and from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026. Payments are based on invoices submitted to CDFA, Humboldt County receives $60 for each new or amended organic registration, $225 for each spot inspection and $75 for each initial visit and first organic inspection. An additional $10 is paid for each organic program participant inspected at farmers’ markets. A flat rate of $130 is paid to the county for each Surveillance Residue sample collected. A supplemental budget is not included in this request as these funds were anticipated in fiscal year 2025-26 budget in Fund 1100, Budget unit 261-Agricultural Commissioner.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no impact on staffing.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may choose not to approve the agreement, however, that is not recommended as it will not allow the county to receive reimbursement for these activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0186-000-SA
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: Aug. 13, 2024
File No.: 24-1066